IGEM:Imperial/2010/Output ideas
Azo dyes
- pdf08@imperial.ac.uk 10:04, 19 July 2010 (EDT): Initially, I was trying to figure out azo-dyes could be synthesised in the procaryotic cells.
Having not found any information confirming that, I tried to look whether maybe some part of azo-dye could be produced in the cell. The other molecules could be addedd to water solution with our cells. Upon detection cells could run apoptotic cascade leading to maybe breaks in the cell wall and cell membrane. This would allow for fast reaction between two chemical molecules which are highly reactive to react together and produce a vivid colour ( Azo coupling ). Exploring this pathway would require specialist chemical knowledge as the very reactive species that are not nomrally present in the cell could potentially react with components of the cell. There is concern about the toxicity ofthe compounds too.
However, I have found that variety of bacterial species tend to rather disassamble the azo-dyes rather than synthsize them. This found application in water cleaning as azo-dyes are perceived as pollutants of water.
