Team:Pitt/Skin Probiotic/Dehydrogenase/Intro

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<h2>Desaturase Intro</h2>
<h2>Desaturase Intro</h2>
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<p>The natural tendency for P. acnes to reside in the skin makes P. acnes an ideal candidate for a skin probiotic. Using the transformation protocol optimized by our team, we can insert novel genes for beneficent functions into P. acnes. One such function is the secretion of a lipid-restoring enzyme, which would reduce inflammation by maintaining a healthy balance of oils on the skin.</p>
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<p><i>P. acnes</i> naturally resides in the skin making it an ideal candidate for an engineered skin probiotic. One our team’s goals is to engineer P. acnes to secrete a lipid-restoring enzyme, which would reduce inflammation by maintaining a healthy balance of oils on the skin. Specifically, we are aiming to express Δ12 Fatty Acid Desaturase. The Biobrick for this gene was first cloned by the <a href = "http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1027002">Manchester 2013 iGEM team (Part: BBa_K1027002).</a></p>
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<p>Under normal conditions, the ratio of linoleic acid and oleic acid remains constant, but the presence of P. acnes alters the healthy ratio of linoleic- and oleic acid. We suspect that this change of lipid composition, specifically the decrease of linoleic acid and elevation in oleic acid, contributes to the occurrence of acne-related inflammation. However, inserting a desaturase enzyme to increase the concentration of linoleic acid will restore the natural lipid composition of the skin, therefore reducing the incidence of inflammation caused by P. acnes.</p>
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<p>On the skin it is thought that a reduction of linoleic acid and elevation in oleic acid, contributes to the occurrence of acne-related inflammation. Thus by inserting a desaturase enzyme to increase the concentration of linoleic acid we will attempt restore the natural lipid balance of characteristic of healthy skin.</p>
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<center><p>Figure 1. Delta Fatty Acid Desaturase converts linoleic acid to oleic acid.</p></center>
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<a href = "https://2014.igem.org/Team:Pitt/Skin_Probiotic/Dehydrogenase/Methods">
<a href = "https://2014.igem.org/Team:Pitt/Skin_Probiotic/Dehydrogenase/Methods">

Revision as of 09:21, 17 October 2014

Desaturase Intro

P. acnes naturally resides in the skin making it an ideal candidate for an engineered skin probiotic. One our team’s goals is to engineer P. acnes to secrete a lipid-restoring enzyme, which would reduce inflammation by maintaining a healthy balance of oils on the skin. Specifically, we are aiming to express Δ12 Fatty Acid Desaturase. The Biobrick for this gene was first cloned by the Manchester 2013 iGEM team (Part: BBa_K1027002).

On the skin it is thought that a reduction of linoleic acid and elevation in oleic acid, contributes to the occurrence of acne-related inflammation. Thus by inserting a desaturase enzyme to increase the concentration of linoleic acid we will attempt restore the natural lipid balance of characteristic of healthy skin.

Figure 1. Delta Fatty Acid Desaturase converts linoleic acid to oleic acid.



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