Modern Approaches into Biochemical and Molecular Biomarkers: KeyRoles in Environmental Biotechnology

Abstract

Biomarkers are characterized by a unique order in their molecular structures and are the first sentinel’s tools for sensitive effect measurements in environmental quality or biotechnological processes assessment. Most of the importance of biomarkers resides in their property to be measurable using different biochemical and molecular approaches. The recent application and or studies of biomarkers and its correlation at the omics era, has revalorized new roles of biomarkers in environmental biotechnology. In this work, some of the common biomarkers actually used, viz, pigments, cytochrome P4501A enzyme induction, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, DNA integrity and metallothiones are analyzed concomitantly to recent applications of Omics technologies to optimize metabolic networks in living biomes. New developments under the umbrella of the culture independent molecular tools applied for the analyses of mixed microbial communities have contributed in understanding catabolism from contaminants in extreme and fragile environments. These approaches open the venue for the new biomarkers for an increased biodiversity expectative of ca. 99% higher than conventional classification. Functional genes by metagenomic arrays, will greatly improve our understanding of microbial interaction and metabolism to facilitate the development of suitable bioremediation strategies for environment clean up.