Lycopene

Lycopene is a carotenoid that primarily derives from the xanthophyll group. Lycopene is an antioxidant that can be found in both vegetables and fruits although it is mostly known for being responsible for the characteristic red color in tomatoes. Several studies indicate that lycopene can decrease the risk of cancer and heart diseases (1). Because of the antioxidant capacities as well as being an important part of the carotenoid pathway makes it an interesting part to study further.

From Slovenia iGEM team 2010 we got an operon containing CrtE, CrtB, CrtI, zinc fingers and linkers were assembled with the inducible promoter pBAD/AraC. In our project the zinc fingers were not put into a lot of consideration. The precursor responsible for lycopene production is phytoene. When phytoene is present together with the enzyme phytoene synthase which is translated by CrtI which was isolated from the operon a catalytic reaction occurs. A standardize test for lycopene was put together by extraction of tomatoes. The tomatoes were boiled in ethyl-acetate to separate. DH5-alpha bacteria which should produce lycopene with the help of our plasmid were separated in a liquid-liquid separation with ethyl-acetate.

Results

The pellet of the bacteria test showed a red pellet which would indicate the existence of lycopene. The tomato extraction test showed a red liquid which would indicate of a lot of lycopene. The tomato extraction was set as the standard of concentration and a test of concentration with the bacteria was used. Unfortunately the concentration was too small to be detected.