Mining of Novel Microbial Enzymes Using Metagenomics Approach for Efficient Bioremediation: An Overview

The state-of-the-art metagenomics approach is currently the method of choice to decipher novel microbial sources with potential for producing plethora of industrially important enzymes. The untapped microbial diversity of the earth can be analyzed by this culture-independent metagenomics tools and enhance the possibility of identifying several novel sources. Microorganisms are the basis of life on earth. They are an indispensable part of environmental interactions and play a pivotal role in maintaining socio-economical sustainability of environment. Bioremediation is an efficient strategy for the removal of different recalcitrant toxic contaminants from several environmentally polluted sites globally. The efficiency of bioremediation is greatly influenced by the selection of microbial populations and hence search for novel microbes requires an amalgamation of classical and omics driven tools. Bioremediation is the preferred route to exploit the microbial wealth for reducing environmental toxicities. The microbial sources utilized in bioremediation releases several enzymes which have the potential to degrade several toxic pollutants. Bioremediation via microbial enzymes eliminates release of secondary pollutants. This is a major advantage over conventional pollutant removal techniques. The recalcinated environment can be best restored by microbial enzymes. The ability to isolate entire meta DNA gives access to the more than 90% of the unculturable and unknown diversity of the microorganisms. The major microbial enzymes of metagenomic origin for bioremediation include oxidoreductases, hydrolases, laccases, etc. The relevance and potential of metagenomics approach in characterizing novel microbial enzymes for bioremediation of polluted environment is discussed in this chapter.