Team:Oxford

University of Oxford’s first iGEM team presents: DCMation, a novel bioremediation approach whose applications are limited only by the versatility of bacterial metabolism. OxiGEM are tackling environmental pollution by developing a user-friendly device for the detection & degradation of the hazardous yet indispensable solvent dichloromethane (DCM).

Inspired by the DCM degradation pathway of M. extorquens DM4, our project is driven and refined by the dialogue between modelling simulations and experimental data. Bioremediation is optimised by expressing the DCM degrading system in host strains along with microcompartments to accelerate the reaction and minimise toxic intermediates. Our biosensor is tuned to our characterisation and improvements of the catalytic efficiency of the system, while incorporation of the bacteria into novel diffusion-limiting biopolymeric beads ensures safe and rapid degradation.
This all-round modular design makes DCMation ideal for extension to the disposal of many harmful substances.