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− | <p> With the development of global economy in the latest demands of energy in world, an average Taiwanese produces around 2.58 | + | <p> With the development of global economy in the latest demands of energy in world, an average Taiwanese produces around 2.58 metric tons of carbon emission a year. |
This number far surpasses those of China, Japan and South Korea. | This number far surpasses those of China, Japan and South Korea. | ||
Our project, as a result, works to use biofuel as an alternative fossil fuel to reduce the current energy crisis. | Our project, as a result, works to use biofuel as an alternative fossil fuel to reduce the current energy crisis. | ||
In our lab, we use microalgae as the source of biofuel since they have the greatest capability of producing large amount of oil. </p> | In our lab, we use microalgae as the source of biofuel since they have the greatest capability of producing large amount of oil. </p> | ||
− | <p> Our project aims to | + | <p> Our project aims to increase oil accumulation through nitrogen starvation, which was brought up in a research we came upon. |
Under nitrogen starvation, de novo synthesis of triacylglycerol from acyl-CoA increases. | Under nitrogen starvation, de novo synthesis of triacylglycerol from acyl-CoA increases. | ||
Acyl moieties derived from the degradation of membrane lipids then recycle into triacylglycerol, increasing carbon flux towards glycerol-3 -phosphate and acyl-CoA for fatty acid synthesis. | Acyl moieties derived from the degradation of membrane lipids then recycle into triacylglycerol, increasing carbon flux towards glycerol-3 -phosphate and acyl-CoA for fatty acid synthesis. | ||
As such, the oil accumulation under nitrogen starvation will increase.</p> | As such, the oil accumulation under nitrogen starvation will increase.</p> | ||
− | <p> There are currently two types of | + | <p> There are currently two types of cultivated systems: open-pond and closed bioreactors. |
− | While open-pond costs way lower than closed bioreactors, open-pond cultivate microalgae with significantly lower oil contents. | + | While open-pond costs way lower than closed bioreactors, open-pond cultivate microalgae is with significantly lower oil contents. |
Many microalgae farms today cultivate microalgae in closed ponds, where regulations are made to keep the nitrogen level low. | Many microalgae farms today cultivate microalgae in closed ponds, where regulations are made to keep the nitrogen level low. | ||
This method, though, consumes lots of energy due to the need to maintain proper temperature, nutrition, light, and other growing factors. | This method, though, consumes lots of energy due to the need to maintain proper temperature, nutrition, light, and other growing factors. | ||
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Therefore, the microalgae will undergo nitrogen starvation and produce oil more efficiently.</p> | Therefore, the microalgae will undergo nitrogen starvation and produce oil more efficiently.</p> | ||
<p> After building up the nitrogen starvation and extracting oil from microalgae, we need to kill <i>E.coli</i> to prevent contamination. | <p> After building up the nitrogen starvation and extracting oil from microalgae, we need to kill <i>E.coli</i> to prevent contamination. | ||
− | So we plan to use endolysin and holin for cell lysis, which is similar to the mechanism used by team | + | So we plan to use endolysin and holin for cell lysis, which is similar to the mechanism used by team PeKing (2014 iGEM Beijing). |
Holin can trigger the formation of holes on cell membrane. | Holin can trigger the formation of holes on cell membrane. | ||
− | When holin successfully | + | When holin successfully forms holes on cell membrane, endolysin can pass through the membrane to decompose peptidoglycan. |
<i>E.coli</i> is lysed after the cell membrane and cell wall are destroyed. | <i>E.coli</i> is lysed after the cell membrane and cell wall are destroyed. | ||
To control the suicide timing, we designed an inducible promoter for holin, so that we can induce <i>E.coli</i> suicide at the exact time we want.</p> | To control the suicide timing, we designed an inducible promoter for holin, so that we can induce <i>E.coli</i> suicide at the exact time we want.</p> | ||
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Revision as of 04:43, 16 October 2017