Team:Macquarie Australia

From 2014.igem.org

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<h3>Overview</h3>
<h3>Overview</h3>
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<p>The project has demonstrated functionality of our designed operons that represent the first step of the chlorophyll a biosynthesis. This was performed through the initial assembly of three operons containing the essential biosynthetic genes that were confirmed through gel electrophoresis and DNA sequencing (Fig. 1). The functionality of the first operon (Mg-chelatase) was demonstrated through the spectral analysis of its enzymatic product, Mg-Protophoryin IX (link to results).  
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Chlorophyll is a core component in the process of photosynthesis. As a pigment,
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it harvests light and plays a primary role in the excitation transfer of energy
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(Eichwurzel, Stiel et al. 2000), which is vital for plant reproduction and survival
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(Uliana, Pires et al. 2014). The chlorophyll biochemical pathway is an oxygenic
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photosynthetic process that oxidizes water to produce hydrogen ions. Thirteen
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genes govern the five-step pathway and each has a specific role.
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2014/0/08/Homepic1.png" />
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The 2014 Macquarie University iGEM team is continuing the work of the 2013 team
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<p><b>Figure 1.</b> Flow chart of the chlorophyll a synthesis pathway. Operons containing the essential genes from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii are represented for their respective step within the pathway. The spectral change of the compounds are represented in the colour of each step.</p>
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to synthetically construct the chlorophyll biochemical pathway in <i> Escherichia coli (E. coli) </i> using
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synthetic Biobricks from <i> Chlamydomonas reinhardtii </i>. The Biobricks from 2013 have
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been made using Gibson Assembly. Our aim for 2014 is to improve the Biobricks using
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synthetic techniques, which will be assembled into three functional operons and
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expressed in <i> E. coli </i> competent cells.
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<p>We have also modelled this step of the biosynthetic pathway (link to modelling). The project was successful in building the foundations for future teams to complete the synthesis of photosystem II in E. coli. This provides a significant leap into the development of a hydrogen-generating bacterial system and a renewable biological energy source. Our policy and practice initiatives were also successful for increasing the public awareness of the global energy crisis and the potential synthetic biology has to providing a solution (link to human practice). </p>
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Revision as of 01:21, 18 October 2014

Our project; in a nutshell

Watch this cool video below!



Overview

The project has demonstrated functionality of our designed operons that represent the first step of the chlorophyll a biosynthesis. This was performed through the initial assembly of three operons containing the essential biosynthetic genes that were confirmed through gel electrophoresis and DNA sequencing (Fig. 1). The functionality of the first operon (Mg-chelatase) was demonstrated through the spectral analysis of its enzymatic product, Mg-Protophoryin IX (link to results).

Figure 1. Flow chart of the chlorophyll a synthesis pathway. Operons containing the essential genes from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii are represented for their respective step within the pathway. The spectral change of the compounds are represented in the colour of each step.

We have also modelled this step of the biosynthetic pathway (link to modelling). The project was successful in building the foundations for future teams to complete the synthesis of photosystem II in E. coli. This provides a significant leap into the development of a hydrogen-generating bacterial system and a renewable biological energy source. Our policy and practice initiatives were also successful for increasing the public awareness of the global energy crisis and the potential synthetic biology has to providing a solution (link to human practice).

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