Difference between revisions of "Team:Baltimore Bio-Crew"
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<h2>Project Description</h2> | <h2>Project Description</h2> | ||
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| − | Our goal for this project is to genetically engineer E. coli bacteria that can break down plastic. These bacteria could have many different applications, such as: degrading plastic waste from labs that cannot be recycled, being used in a filter to catch and degrade micro plastic fibers from laundry, and breaking down plastic in a marine environment into harmless molecules. We made a lot of progress last year, and this year we plan to build on that progress. | + | Our goal for this project is to genetically engineer E. coli bacteria that can break down plastic. These bacteria could have many different applications, such as: degrading plastic waste from labs that cannot be recycled, being used in a filter to catch and degrade micro plastic fibers from laundry, and breaking down plastic in a marine environment into harmless molecules. We made a lot of progress last year, and this year we plan to build on that progress. |
</p> | </p> | ||
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| − | By the end of last year’s competition, we had managed to insert the lipase gene into E.coli, but not the chlorogenate esterase gene. We confirmed that we had correctly inserted the lipase gene using colony PCR and gene sequencing, but we did not have the time to conduct additional assays, such as protein gels, to determine if the enzyme was being secreted from the bacteria. | + | By the end of last year’s competition, we had managed to insert the lipase gene into E.coli, but not the chlorogenate esterase gene. We confirmed that we had correctly inserted the lipase gene using colony PCR and gene sequencing, but we did not have the time to conduct additional assays, such as protein gels, to determine if the enzyme was being secreted from the bacteria. |
| − | This year, we plan to redesign the chlorogenate esterase and lipase genes so that they contain the proper tags that will allow them to be detected, and a secretion sequence. After we insert both genes into E. coli cells, we will test them to make sure they can secrete the plastic degrading enzymes and degrade PET plastic. | + | This year, we plan to redesign the chlorogenate esterase and lipase genes so that they contain the proper tags that will allow them to be detected, and a secretion sequence. After we insert both genes into E. coli cells, we will test them to make sure they can secrete the plastic degrading enzymes and degrade PET plastic. |
</p> | </p> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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| − | <div class="column full_size" > | + | <div class="column full_size" > |
<h1> Welcome to iGEM 2017! </h1> | <h1> Welcome to iGEM 2017! </h1> | ||
<p>Your team has been approved and you are ready to start the iGEM season! </p> | <p>Your team has been approved and you are ready to start the iGEM season! </p> | ||
| − | </div> | + | </div> |
<div class="clear"></div> | <div class="clear"></div> | ||
| − | <div class="column half_size" > | + | <div class="column half_size" > |
<h5>Before you start: </h5> | <h5>Before you start: </h5> | ||
<p> Please read the following pages:</p> | <p> Please read the following pages:</p> | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | <div class="column half_size" > | + | <div class="column half_size" > |
<div class="highlight"> | <div class="highlight"> | ||
<h5> Styling your wiki </h5> | <h5> Styling your wiki </h5> | ||
<p>You may style this page as you like or you can simply leave the style as it is. You can easily keep the styling and edit the content of these default wiki pages with your project information and completely fulfill the requirement to document your project.</p> | <p>You may style this page as you like or you can simply leave the style as it is. You can easily keep the styling and edit the content of these default wiki pages with your project information and completely fulfill the requirement to document your project.</p> | ||
| − | <p>While you may not win Best Wiki with this styling, your team is still eligible for all other awards. This default wiki meets the requirements, it improves navigability and ease of use for visitors, and you should not feel it is necessary to style beyond what has been provided.</p> | + | <p>While you may not win Best Wiki with this styling, your team is still eligible for all other awards. This default wiki meets the requirements, it improves navigability and ease of use for visitors, and you should not feel it is necessary to style beyond what has been provided.</p> |
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | <div class="column full_size" > | + | <div class="column full_size" > |
<h5> Wiki template information </h5> | <h5> Wiki template information </h5> | ||
<p>We have created these wiki template pages to help you get started and to help you think about how your team will be evaluated. You can find a list of all the pages tied to awards here at the <a href="https://2017.igem.org/Judging/Pages_for_Awards">Pages for awards</a> link. You must edit these pages to be evaluated for medals and awards, but ultimately the design, layout, style and all other elements of your team wiki is up to you!</p> | <p>We have created these wiki template pages to help you get started and to help you think about how your team will be evaluated. You can find a list of all the pages tied to awards here at the <a href="https://2017.igem.org/Judging/Pages_for_Awards">Pages for awards</a> link. You must edit these pages to be evaluated for medals and awards, but ultimately the design, layout, style and all other elements of your team wiki is up to you!</p> | ||
| − | </div> | + | </div> |
| − | <div class="column half_size" > | + | <div class="column half_size" > |
<h5> Editing your wiki </h5> | <h5> Editing your wiki </h5> | ||
| − | <p>On this page you can document your project, introduce your team members, document your progress and share your iGEM experience with the rest of the world! </p> | + | <p>On this page you can document your project, introduce your team members, document your progress and share your iGEM experience with the rest of the world! </p> |
<p> <a href="https://2017.igem.org/wiki/index.php?title=Team:Example&action=edit"> </a>Use WikiTools - Edit in the black menu bar to edit this page</p> | <p> <a href="https://2017.igem.org/wiki/index.php?title=Team:Example&action=edit"> </a>Use WikiTools - Edit in the black menu bar to edit this page</p> | ||
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<h5>Tips</h5> | <h5>Tips</h5> | ||
<p>This wiki will be your team’s first interaction with the rest of the world, so here are a few tips to help you get started: </p> | <p>This wiki will be your team’s first interaction with the rest of the world, so here are a few tips to help you get started: </p> | ||
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<li>Start documenting your project as early as possible; don’t leave anything to the last minute before the Wiki Freeze. For a complete list of deadlines visit the <a href="https://2017.igem.org/Calendar">iGEM 2017 calendar</a> </li> | <li>Start documenting your project as early as possible; don’t leave anything to the last minute before the Wiki Freeze. For a complete list of deadlines visit the <a href="https://2017.igem.org/Calendar">iGEM 2017 calendar</a> </li> | ||
<li>Have lots of fun! </li> | <li>Have lots of fun! </li> | ||
| − | </ul> | + | </ul> |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | <div class="column half_size" > | + | <div class="column half_size" > |
<h5>Inspiration</h5> | <h5>Inspiration</h5> | ||
<p> You can also view other team wikis for inspiration! Here are some examples:</p> | <p> You can also view other team wikis for inspiration! Here are some examples:</p> | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
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<h5> Uploading pictures and files </h5> | <h5> Uploading pictures and files </h5> | ||
<p> You can upload your pictures and files to the iGEM 2017 server. Remember to keep all your pictures and files within your team's namespace or at least include your team's name in the file name. <br /> | <p> You can upload your pictures and files to the iGEM 2017 server. Remember to keep all your pictures and files within your team's namespace or at least include your team's name in the file name. <br /> | ||
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Revision as of 18:17, 8 July 2017
Project Description
Our goal for this project is to genetically engineer E. coli bacteria that can break down plastic. These bacteria could have many different applications, such as: degrading plastic waste from labs that cannot be recycled, being used in a filter to catch and degrade micro plastic fibers from laundry, and breaking down plastic in a marine environment into harmless molecules. We made a lot of progress last year, and this year we plan to build on that progress.
While searching for solutions to the issue of plastic pollution in the Baltimore Inner Harbor, we found a paper by Yoshida et. al. describing a bacteria called Ideonella sakaiensis that was capable of degrading PET plastic into monomers. The bacteria used the enzyme PETase (chlorogenate esterase) to break down PET into MHET, and the enzyme MHETase (Lipase) to break down MHET into ethylene glycol and therephthalic acid. We decided to use the genes from this bacteria for our project.
To avoid the safety risks of working with a relatively undocumented bacteria, we decided to take the plastic degradation genes from I. sakaiensis and put them into K12 E. coli bacteria. We chose E. coli because they are safe to work with and commonly used in the lab. Using the genetic sequence found in the paper, we designed the two plastic degrading enzymes so that they could be expressed in E. coli bacteria. We then had them synthesized and worked on putting these genes into E. coli.
By the end of last year’s competition, we had managed to insert the lipase gene into E.coli, but not the chlorogenate esterase gene. We confirmed that we had correctly inserted the lipase gene using colony PCR and gene sequencing, but we did not have the time to conduct additional assays, such as protein gels, to determine if the enzyme was being secreted from the bacteria. This year, we plan to redesign the chlorogenate esterase and lipase genes so that they contain the proper tags that will allow them to be detected, and a secretion sequence. After we insert both genes into E. coli cells, we will test them to make sure they can secrete the plastic degrading enzymes and degrade PET plastic.
