Team:Braunschweig/Results
From 2014.igem.org
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<h1>Results</h1> | <h1>Results</h1> | ||
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- | In this year’s iGEM project we, the iGEM Team Braunschweig, fought global warming right at the source - the digestive tract of cows. We developed an approach to reduce the emission of the important greenhouse gas methane using a genetically engineered bacterium - <i>E. cowli</i>.<br> | + | In this year’s iGEM project we, the iGEM Team Braunschweig, fought global warming right at the source - the digestive tract of cows. We developed an approach to reduce the emission of the important greenhouse gas methane using a genetically engineered bacterium - <i>E. cowli</i>.<br> |
- | <i>E. cowli</i> uses the enzyme soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) isolated from <i>M. capsulatus</i>. We were not only able to express all subunits of sMMO in soluble form but could also prove the activity of the whole enzyme complex in the heterologous host organism <i>E. coli</i>. However, this was not as trivial as it may sound - proper folding required coexpression of molecular chaperones.<br> | + | <i>E. cowli</i> uses the enzyme soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) isolated from <i>M. capsulatus</i>. We were not only able to express all subunits of sMMO in soluble form but could also prove the activity of the whole enzyme complex in the heterologous host organism <i>E. coli</i>. However, this was not as trivial as it may sound - proper folding required coexpression of molecular chaperones.<br> |
- | Beside the successful expression and proof of activity we developed a practical application for the designed <i>E. cowli</i> to degrade methane before it gets emitted. This application included the immobilization of <i>E. cowli</i> into an alginate matrix resulting in many beneficial and advantageous effects such as a user-friendly dosage, high cost-efficiency, easy production as well as the biodegradability of the product. | + | Beside the successful expression and proof of activity we developed a practical application for the designed <i>E. cowli</i> to degrade methane before it gets emitted. This application included the immobilization of <i>E. cowli</i> into an alginate matrix resulting in many beneficial and advantageous effects such as a user-friendly dosage, high cost-efficiency, easy production as well as the biodegradability of the product. |
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- | In order to make <i>E. cowli</i> accessible for future applications we had to find a way of introducing it into the cow’s rumen where it is supposed to degrade methane. Take a look at our unBEADables here! | + | In order to make <i>E. cowli</i> accessible for future applications we had to find a way of introducing it into the cow’s rumen where it is supposed to degrade methane. Take a look at our unBEADables here! |
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- | What use would <i>E. cowli</i> be if the methane-degrading enzyme was not active? To prevent this scenario and show the functionality of the complex we had to perform activity assays with our modified bacterium. | + | What use would <i>E. cowli</i> be if the methane-degrading enzyme was not active? To prevent this scenario and show the functionality of the complex we had to perform activity assays with our modified bacterium. |
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Revision as of 11:11, 17 October 2014
Results
In this year’s iGEM project we, the iGEM Team Braunschweig, fought global warming right at the source - the digestive tract of cows. We developed an approach to reduce the emission of the important greenhouse gas methane using a genetically engineered bacterium - E. cowli.
E. cowli uses the enzyme soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) isolated from M. capsulatus. We were not only able to express all subunits of sMMO in soluble form but could also prove the activity of the whole enzyme complex in the heterologous host organism E. coli. However, this was not as trivial as it may sound - proper folding required coexpression of molecular chaperones.
Beside the successful expression and proof of activity we developed a practical application for the designed E. cowli to degrade methane before it gets emitted. This application included the immobilization of E. cowli into an alginate matrix resulting in many beneficial and advantageous effects such as a user-friendly dosage, high cost-efficiency, easy production as well as the biodegradability of the product.