Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the identification or cloning of polynucleotides encoding a selected phenotype, particularly from environmental DNA. In a specific embodiment, the method comprises (i) cloning environmental DNA fragments into E. coli cloning vectors to produce a metagenomic library, (ii) identifying or selecting cloning vectors in the library which contain DNA fragments having a particular characteristic of interest, (iii) modifying the identified or selected cloning vectors into shuttle or expression vectors for transfer and integration in a selected host cell, (iv) transferring the modified cloning vectors into the selected host-cell and (v) identifying or cloning the DNA fragments contained in the modified cloning vectors which encode the selected phenotype in the selected host cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to the direct selection of metabolic pathways having a determined function in the transformation of a substrate {Ai} into a target product {B}, which is of interest in the industrial, pharmaceutical or agri-food sectors. More specifically, the invention relates to the detection, within metagenomic libraries, of novel biosynthesis pathways involved in a biochemical reaction having a known product {B}. The selection and characterisation of said novel metabolic pathways enables {B} to be produced enzymatically. The invention provides an alternative to the chemical synthesis of the molecule in question {B}. Moreover, and above all, the invention can be used specifically to target and exploit the only metabolic pathways enabling the transformation of {Ai} into {B}, while eliminating the associated metabolic pathways that can catabolise the target product {B}.

Abstract: The invention relates to the direct selection of metabolic pathways having a determined function in the transformation of a substrate {Ai} into a target product {B}, which is of interest in the industrial, pharmaceutical or agri-food sectors. More specifically, the invention relates to the detection, within metagenomic libraries, of novel biosynthesis pathways involved in a biochemical reaction having a known product {B}. The selection and characterization of said novel metabolic pathways enables {B} to be produced enzymatically. The invention provides an alternative to the chemical synthesis of the molecule in question {B}. Moreover, and above all, the invention can be used specifically to target and exploit the only metabolic pathways enabling the transformation of {Ai} into {B}, while eliminating the associated metabolic pathways that can catabolise the target product {B}.

Abstract: The invention relates to the direct selection of metabolic pathways having a determined function in the transformation of a substrate {Ai} into a target product {B}, which is of interest in the industrial, pharmaceutical or agri-food sectors. More specifically, the invention relates to the detection, within metagenomic libraries, of novel biosynthesis pathways involved in a biochemical reaction having a known product {B}. The selection and characterisation of said novel metabolic pathways enables {B} to be produced enzymatically. The invention provides an alternative to the chemical synthesis of the molecule in question {B}. Moreover, and above all, the invention can be used specifically to target and exploit the only metabolic pathways enabling the transformation of {Ai} into {B}, while eliminating the associated metabolic pathways that can catabolise the target product {B}.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the identification or cloning of polynucleotides encoding a selected phenotype, particularly from environmental DNA. In a specific embodiment, the method comprises (i) cloning environmental DNA fragments into E coli cloning vectors to produce a metagenomic library, (ii) identifying or selecting cloning vectors in said library which contain DNA fragments having a particular characteristic of interest, (iii) modifying the identified or selected cloning vectors into shuttle or expression vectors for transfer and integration in a selected host cell, (iv) transferring the modified cloning vectors into said selected host-cell and (v) identifying or cloning the DNA fragments contained in said modified cloning vectors which encode said selected phenotype in said selected host cell.