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Team:Shenzhen SZMS
From 2013hs.igem.org
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===Project Discription=== | ===Project Discription=== | ||
| - | + | Nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-) are chemical roots of nitric acid (HNO3) and nitrous acid (HNO2) respectively. They exist in the aquatic environment, the living organisms and artificial products, as pollutants, which can cause food poisoning, cancers or even death.. So it's important to detect and eliminate such chemicals with the efficient methods.. Several detection methods have already been in use but all are not entirely harmless. For example, granular Cd grains are easy to make and recover, and can be used repeatedly, so this procedure is recommended for the NO3- determination for fruits and vegetables. But Cd cannot be recycled easily, and may cause additional pollution. So we strived to design biosensors to avoid the disadvantages of traditional methods. | |
| - | + | Our team is to develop novel modular biosensors that enable cost-effective and on-site detection of nitrates/nitrites by using an Escherichia coli chassis. And our development toward the nitrates/nitrites sensor is based on the previous work of the UT Dallas 2010 and Cambridge 2009. Since their aim is to enable E.coli to mark the existence of nitrates/nitrites with the GFP reporter, we found several drawbacks of this biosensor. Initially, the GFP reporter among the bacteria is not efficient enough to mark the inducer. It will only produce those green fluorescent protein with gloomy green light. Also, the process has been formed without any Recycling measures toward the proteins. Because of these shortages, our team thus aimed to find a possible replacement in order to reinforced the biosensor. | |
| + | First, we find the initial part of biosensor, which is the PyeaR promoter that used to bind with nitrates and nitrites, from the work of previous teams. Then, to make a remarkable expression, we plan to insert a reporter genes, the CrtEBI, that, when synthesized, will lead the E. coli to release a specific pigment, lycopene, as visible color to determine the existence of nitrates/nitrites. Simultaneously, we will add another reporter, the banana odor enzyme (ATF1) generator, which is capable to lead the production of an aroma of bananas with the presence of nitrates/nitrites. Also, if capable, we wish to build our new biobrick to trigger the release of a certain enzyme, which can produce lipoxygenase to help in the degradation of the lycopene. | ||
| + | The goal of our project is to provide an efficient and a more environment friendly method of detecting nitrates/nitrites. | ||
| + | [[File:Overview of the biobricks.jpg]] | ||
===Notebook=== | ===Notebook=== | ||
Show us how you spent your days. | Show us how you spent your days. | ||
Revision as of 14:13, 31 March 2013
- a team description
- project description
- safety information (did your team take a safety training course? were you supervised in the lab?)
- team attribution (who did what part of your project?)
- lab notebook
- sponsor information
- other information
Example: 2013hs.igem.org/Team:Shenzhen_SZMS/Our_Pets
| You can write a background of your team here. Give us a background of your team, the members, etc. Or tell us more about something of your choosing. |  |
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Tell us more about your project. Give us background. Use this as the abstract of your project. Be descriptive but concise (1-2 paragraphs) |  Your team picture |
| Team Shenzhen_SZMS |
| Official Team Profile |
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Contents |
Team
Tell us about your team, your school!
Project
Project Discription
Nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-) are chemical roots of nitric acid (HNO3) and nitrous acid (HNO2) respectively. They exist in the aquatic environment, the living organisms and artificial products, as pollutants, which can cause food poisoning, cancers or even death.. So it's important to detect and eliminate such chemicals with the efficient methods.. Several detection methods have already been in use but all are not entirely harmless. For example, granular Cd grains are easy to make and recover, and can be used repeatedly, so this procedure is recommended for the NO3- determination for fruits and vegetables. But Cd cannot be recycled easily, and may cause additional pollution. So we strived to design biosensors to avoid the disadvantages of traditional methods.
Our team is to develop novel modular biosensors that enable cost-effective and on-site detection of nitrates/nitrites by using an Escherichia coli chassis. And our development toward the nitrates/nitrites sensor is based on the previous work of the UT Dallas 2010 and Cambridge 2009. Since their aim is to enable E.coli to mark the existence of nitrates/nitrites with the GFP reporter, we found several drawbacks of this biosensor. Initially, the GFP reporter among the bacteria is not efficient enough to mark the inducer. It will only produce those green fluorescent protein with gloomy green light. Also, the process has been formed without any Recycling measures toward the proteins. Because of these shortages, our team thus aimed to find a possible replacement in order to reinforced the biosensor. First, we find the initial part of biosensor, which is the PyeaR promoter that used to bind with nitrates and nitrites, from the work of previous teams. Then, to make a remarkable expression, we plan to insert a reporter genes, the CrtEBI, that, when synthesized, will lead the E. coli to release a specific pigment, lycopene, as visible color to determine the existence of nitrates/nitrites. Simultaneously, we will add another reporter, the banana odor enzyme (ATF1) generator, which is capable to lead the production of an aroma of bananas with the presence of nitrates/nitrites. Also, if capable, we wish to build our new biobrick to trigger the release of a certain enzyme, which can produce lipoxygenase to help in the degradation of the lycopene.
The goal of our project is to provide an efficient and a more environment friendly method of detecting nitrates/nitrites.
Notebook
Show us how you spent your days.
Results/Conclusions
What did you achieve over the course of your semester?
Safety
What safety precautions did your team take? Did you take a safety training course? Were you supervised at all times in the lab?
Attributions
Who worked on what?
Human Practices
What impact does/will your project have on the public?
Fun!
What was your favorite team snack?? Have a picture of your team mascot?
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