Team:HUST-China
「Abstract」
WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON ?
This year iGEM HUST-China focus on the enrichment of rare earth elements. Through the engineering bacteria we enrich rare earth element and recover wastewater. Our final goal is to build a highly intelligent & efficient engineering bacteria with logical combination of artificial peptides.
WHY WE FOCUS ON THIS ?
The rare-earth elements (REEs) are becoming increasingly important due to their essential role in permanent magnets, catalysts, rechargeable batteries and other high tech product[1]. However, mining, refining, and recycling of rare earths have serious environmental consequences if not properly managed. For example, toxic acids are required during the refining process and they are particularly prone to be released into the general water supply[2]. So, we need an effective way to improve the existing production methods, that’s why we turn to synthetic biology.
HOW WE ACHIEVE OUR GOAL ?
Our system consists the sensing part and the capture part which base on artificial peptides.We combine lanthanide binding peptide and surface display system to capture rare earth ions. The sensing part is a transformation of membrane protein which can sense the ferric ion. We also use the design from 2015 iGEM HUST-China to help us regain our bacterial.
