Application of bioinformatics in the analysis of heavy oil degradation gene in bacillus subtilis

Abstract

Bacillus subtilis is known very potential to degrade heavy oil because it can produce biosurfactants. The presence of biosurfactant makes Bacillus subtilis able to degrade the chains of carbon atoms in heavy oils. The ability of Bacillus subtilis to produce biosurfactants is caused by the Sfp gene required to produce Sfp 4-phosphopantetheine transferase protein. To know the characteristics and pathways of the Sfp gene in producing biosurfactants, molecular analysis was carried out by using bioinformatics. The analysis carried out included an analysis of the structure of the protein produced and determination of the Sfp 4'-phosphopantetheine transferase protein metabolism pathway by using EcoCyc. Based on the results of the analysis carried out related to the Sfp gene, it has a protein motif associated with a fairly low similarity with some EntD proteins from Escherichia coli. From the EcoCyc analysis known that AccS as a group of genes that produce 4'-phosphopantetheine transferase Sfp and Associated EntD proteins play an important role in maintaining membrane cell function. Excessive expression of the SFP gene will help the secretion of secondary metabolites capable of breaking complex carbon atom chains in the heavy oil.