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), to illustrate.

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 and scalability make DCMation ideal for extension to the disposal of many harmful substances. Explore our wiki for more!

Attributions

All molecular biology, biochemical and fluorescence work was performed by student team members: Glen; Philipp; Francesca; Corinna; Andrew; and Emily in the lab of Prof. Judith Armitage under supervision of Dr. George Wadhams, Dr. Ciaran Kelly, Karl Brune and Dr. Lucas Black. Interlab measurement study was performed by Tim under supervision of Lucas. All modelling was performed by student team members: Oliver; Matthew; and Leroy under the supervision of Dr. Antonis Papachristodolou and Andreas Harris. Human Practices was performed by Sian and Francesca. Biobead synthesis was performed Jack under supervision of Dr. George Wadhams. Wiki design and coding was done by Jack, Olliver, with help from Ashok Menon.