CHE.496/2008/Projects/2/Group 2
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Group 2's project overview and part design
List of initial ideas
- Foundational
- Parts for genetic circuits
- New light sensor (i.e., new wavelength)
- New chassis (e.g., yeast)
- Standardized plasmids
- Standardized restriction sites
- Optimizing existing parts (e.g., inverter)
- Compartmentalization/insulation
- Molecular screens (filters) that enable signal isolation and insulation (inside the cells and in between cells)
- Parts for genetic circuits
- Computational
- modeling of biotech-relevant microorganisms
- Synthetic Biology Tools
- Quality characterization techniques
- Ways to insulate biological signals
- Genetic Circuit Engineering
- Light-based repressilator
- Light switch
- Biosensing
- Ethylene biosensor
- Algae that sense light and displays permanent memory
- Metabolic Engineering
- Polysaccharide synthesis (for food)
- Bioplastic production
- Chemical degradation (toxin breakdown)
- Oil
- CO2
- Plastics
List of top two project ideas
- Biological production of plastic
- Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are naturally synthesized polyesters in Ralstonia eutropha
- These PHAs are used for energy storage
- Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a PHA and could possible replace polypropylene
- Biologically-produced plastics represent a sustainable chemical industry that is not dependent on petroleum
- Three genes necessary for PHB synthesis: PhaA, PhaB and PhaC (from Pohlmann et al., 2006)
- Pathway: 2 acetyl-CoA are condensed into acetoacetyl-CoA by PhaA. Then, PhaB (NADPH-dependent) reduces this to (R)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA. Finally, this is polymerized into PHB by PhaC.
- PhaA (code for acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase) Nucleotide sequence
- Possible use in tissue engineering applications (PHB is found in blood plasma)
- Chassis: E. coli
- Biological degradation of plastic
- Biodegradation of natural plastics
- PHAs are biodegradable.
- Ralstonia eutropha breaks down PHB using PhaZ1, PhaZ2 and PhaY1.
- Biodegradation of synthetic plastics
- Streptomyces, a gram-positive bacteria, can naturally break down polyethylene
- Phanerochaete chrysosporium manganese peroxidase breaks down polyethylene Nucleotide sequence
- Biodegradation of natural plastics