Team:Dundee/Project

From 2013.igem.org

Revision as of 11:00, 10 July 2013 by Kyleharrison (Talk | contribs)

iGEM Dundee 2013 · Toxi-Mop

The Microcystin Monster

When conditions become favourable for cyanobacteria in freshwater systems, their population explodes and has devastating effects on the ecosystem by starving other organisms of oxygen. This can occur naturally but may also be a result of man’s impact on the environment; e.g. the use of synthetic fertilisers leaching into the water reservoirs such as lakes and ponds. Cyanobacteria produce many toxins such as microcystin, which are harmful to other organisms, including humans.

Microcystin (made by Microcystis aeruginosa and some Planktothrix spp) irreversibly binds to Protein Phosphatase 1 (PP1) in humans, producing detrimental effects in the liver in particular. iGEM Dundee strives to engineer lab bacteria strains to use PP1 as a detector and a mop of microcystin. We hope to create a microcystin detection system that takes 1 hour to give results, compared to the current 24 hour method. A remote sensor device has also been designed to predict occurrence of algal blooms.


Sensor

At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio.Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat.

Detector

One of our aims is to make a detection system in Bacillus subtilis where spores germinate in response to the presence of microcystin. This uses a modified version of the PrkC receptor (which usually acts as a sensor for the germination of other spores in the surrounding area), substituting PP1 in place of the normal sensor domains. Our idea is that when microcystin binds to the PP1 of the PrkC receptor, this will trigger downstream intracellular effects, resulting in the germination of dormant spores. The awoken bacteria will then produce PP1 (ToxiMop idea) to rid the water of microcystin.

Toxi-Mop

ToxiMop uses the human protein PP1 expressed on the surface of bacteria to act as a biological mop for microcystin. By covalently binding to protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), microcystin acts as an inhibitor of PP1, a protein which is integral to almost all major signalling pathways in human cells. We are using cloning techniques to genetically engineer B. subtilis and E. coli to express PP1 on the cell surface so that bacteria can inhibit microcystin in algal blooms, therefore reducing harm to freshwater ecosystems.

Toxi-Tweet

Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?