title: Marine fungi as source of new hydrophobins.
abstract: Hydrophobins have been described as the most powerful surface-active proteins known. They are produced by filamentous fungi and exhibit a distinct amphiphilic structure determining their self-assembly at hydrophilic-hydrophobic interfaces and surfactant properties which have been demonstrated to be useful for several biotechnological applications. The marine environment represents a vast natural resource of new molecules produced by organisms growing in various stressful conditions. This study was focused on the screening of 100 marine fungi from Mycoteca Universitatis Taurinensis (MUT) for the identification of new hydrophobins. Four different methods were set up to extract hydrophobins of class I and II, from the mycelium or the culture broth of fungi. Six fungi were selected as the best producers of hydrophobins endowed with different characteristics. Their ability to form stable amphiphilic films and their emulsification capacity in the presence of olive oil was evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Cintia 4, I-80126 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cicatiello
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Cintia 4, I-80126 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gravagnuolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, viale P.A. Mattioli 25, I-10125 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gnavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, viale P.A. Mattioli 25, I-10125 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna Cristina
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Varese
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Cintia 4, I-80126 Naples, Italy. Electronic address: giardina@unina.it.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giardina
mesh_terms: D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004655:Emulsions; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005658:Fungi / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D025282:Mycelium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000069463:Olive Oil / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004655:Emulsions; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D000069463:Olive Oil; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
keywords: Biosurfactants; Emulsion; Marine microorganisms; Protein coating; Self-assembly; Surface wettability