title: Thermophilic molds: Biology and applications.
abstract: Thermophilic molds thrive in a variety of natural habitats including soils, composts, wood chip piles, nesting materials of birds and other animals, municipal refuse and others, and ubiquitous in their distribution. These molds grow in simple media containing carbon and nitrogen sources and mineral salts. Polyamines are synthesized in these molds and the composition of lipids varies considerably, predominantly containing palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids with low levels of lauric, palmiotoleic and stearic acids. Thermophilic molds are capable of efficiently degrading organic materials by secreting thermostable enzymes, which are useful in the bioremediation of industrial wastes and effluents that are rich in oil, heavy metals, anti-nutritional factors such as phytic acid and polysaccharides. Thermophilic molds synthesize several antimicrobial substances and biotechnologically useful miscellaneous enzymes. The analysis of genomes of thermophilic molds reveals high G:C contents, shorter introns and intergenic regions with lesser repetitive sequences, and further confirms their ability to degrade agro-residues efficiently. Genetic engineering has aided in ameliorating the characteristics of the enzymes of thermophilic molds. This review is aimed at focusing on the biology of thermophilic molds with emphasis on recent developments in the analysis of genomes, genetic engineering and potential applications.
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Bioprocess Technology, Department of Microbiology , Maharshi Dayanand University , Rohtak , Haryana , India .
authors.forename: Bijender
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: b Department of Genetics and Morphology , Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro , Brasilia , Brazil .
authors.forename: Marcio J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Poças-Fonseca
authors.affiliation: c Department of Biotechnology , Barkatullah University , Bhopal , Madhya Pradesh , India , and.
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Johri
authors.affiliation: d Department of Microbiology , University of Delhi South Campus , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Tulasi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Satyanarayana
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001709:Biotechnology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism; D005658:Fungi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy
keywords: Bioethanol; environmental pollution abatement; lignocellulosic biomass; thermophilic molds/fungi; thermostable enzymes