Team:York/Project

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                                                         <li class="active"><a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:York/Project">Challenge</a></li>
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<a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:York/Team">Students</a></li>
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<a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:York/Team">Students and Instructors</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:York/Sponsors">Sponsors</a></li>
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<h1>The project</h1>
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<h1>The Challenge</h1>
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<p><h2>To remove Cadmium from water</h2></p>
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<p>Both cadmium and sulfate can be found in wastewater and, if not removed have a detrimental impact upon the environment, ecosystems and humans. Both cadmium and sulfates can be found in high concentrations in industrial output. This year, our project at iGEM York is focusing on increasing the uptake of cadmium and sulfate in our chosen chassis <i>E. coli</i>. The project has two main, interlinked approaches:</p><ul>
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<p>Both cadmium and sulfate compounds can be found in wastewater and is produced from processes such as electroplating. If these contaminants are not removed from the environment, they can have a detrimental impact upon living organisms. For example, if cadmium is consumed by mammals over a long period of time, it can cause health problems such as Itai-Itai disease (cadmium poisoning). This year, our project at iGEM York is focusing on increasing the uptake of cadmium and sulfate in our chosen chassis <i>E. coli</i>. The project has two main, interlinked approaches:</p>
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<ul>
<li><p>Firstly, the increased uptake of sulfur using an exogenous sulfate transporter from <i>Bacillus</i>.</p></li>
<li><p>Firstly, the increased uptake of sulfur using an exogenous sulfate transporter from <i>Bacillus</i>.</p></li>
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<li><p>Secondly the increased uptake and chelation of cadmium ions through the use of metal-binding proteins, to produce a potentially recoverable metal product.</p></li></ul>
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<li><p>Secondly the increased uptake and chelation of cadmium ions through the use of metal-binding proteins, to produce a potentially recoverable metal product.</p></li>
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<p>The link between these two processes is the cysteine-rich phytochelatins. The phytochelatins we are over-expressing in our chassis are rich in cysteine and as a result, rich in sulfate. Thus our phytochelatins act as a sink for sulfate whilst chelating the cadmium that builds up inside the cell.</p><br<br>
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<p>Our system is regulated by the metal concentration in the environment. If the concentration reaches the threshold of our cadmium inducible promoter (pYoda) sensitivity then it will activate the whole system. Thus, our system prevents the overproduction of cysteine when Cadmium is not found at high concentrations.</p>
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<p><h2>How are these two processes intertwined?</h2></p>
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<p>We are tweaking the cysteine biosynthesis pathway, allowing the over-expression of cysteine and the utilisation of the sulfate that accumulates inside our cell. In addition, we are tweaking another system, the production of cysteine-rich phytochelatins. We are over-producing these metal-binding proteins, and thus creating a sink for the cysteine that is produced by our cell. These metal-binding proteins are also responsible for chelating the cadmium that our cell takes up from the environment.</p>
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<p><h3>How is our system regulated?</h3></p>
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<p>We have designed our system to be regulated by the concentration of cadmium in the environment. If the concentration of cadmium surpasses the sensitivity threshold of pYoda (cadmium-inducible promoter)then it will activate our system and as a result, our genes will be expressed. Our system prevents the overproduction of cysteine when cadmium is at low concentrations.</p>
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<!-- <img src=https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2014/4/4f/York_Cysteine_2.png>
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<p><b>Structure of L-Cysteine</b></p> -->
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2014/9/99/L-cysteine.png" class="img-responsive" style="width:350px;">
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<p><b> Synthesis of L-Cysteine</b></p></div></div>
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<a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:York/Article">
<a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:York/Article">
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<h3>EcoCADMUS: The gruesome story behind the name.</h3></a><br>
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<h3 class="text-center"><i>EcoCADMUS</i>: The grisly story behind the name.</h3></a><br>

Latest revision as of 03:33, 18 October 2014

Team York 2014


The Challenge

To remove Cadmium from water

Both cadmium and sulfate compounds can be found in wastewater and is produced from processes such as electroplating. If these contaminants are not removed from the environment, they can have a detrimental impact upon living organisms. For example, if cadmium is consumed by mammals over a long period of time, it can cause health problems such as Itai-Itai disease (cadmium poisoning). This year, our project at iGEM York is focusing on increasing the uptake of cadmium and sulfate in our chosen chassis E. coli. The project has two main, interlinked approaches:

  • Firstly, the increased uptake of sulfur using an exogenous sulfate transporter from Bacillus.

  • Secondly the increased uptake and chelation of cadmium ions through the use of metal-binding proteins, to produce a potentially recoverable metal product.

How are these two processes intertwined?

We are tweaking the cysteine biosynthesis pathway, allowing the over-expression of cysteine and the utilisation of the sulfate that accumulates inside our cell. In addition, we are tweaking another system, the production of cysteine-rich phytochelatins. We are over-producing these metal-binding proteins, and thus creating a sink for the cysteine that is produced by our cell. These metal-binding proteins are also responsible for chelating the cadmium that our cell takes up from the environment.

How is our system regulated?

We have designed our system to be regulated by the concentration of cadmium in the environment. If the concentration of cadmium surpasses the sensitivity threshold of pYoda (cadmium-inducible promoter)then it will activate our system and as a result, our genes will be expressed. Our system prevents the overproduction of cysteine when cadmium is at low concentrations.

Synthesis of L-Cysteine

EcoCADMUS: The grisly story behind the name.


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