Aureobasidium subglaciale EXF-2481 Genome sequencing and assembly. Aureobasidium subglaciale EXF-2481

1. The genome sequence will facilitate our goal (and similar efforts of other groups) to identify genes encoding various enzymes that could be involved in degradation of lignocellulose substrates and construction of technology for the production of bioethanol as a very promising biofuel from these substrates. 2. The discovery of great quantities of A. pullulans in Arctic glaciers that has recently been published by our group was a surprise to the microbiological community researching polar environments. Just as unusual was the description of a novel variety A. pullulans var. pullulans that has so far been isolated exclusively from the glacial environments. Knowledge about this and its related varieties is important due to its quickly disappearing glacial habitats due to the climate changes. 3. The climate changes are involved in the increasing drought frequency and the need for irrigation of agricultural land, which often leads to salinization of the soil. Both drought and salinization are major agricultural problems that substantially decrease the World food production. The genes from the halotolerant A. pullulans will provide new targets for the construction of genetically modified crops with increased salt and drought tolerance, which could be cultivated the now useless former agricultural land.