Team:IIT Delhi/Project

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Origin of Our Project

• ✔ In today’s modern world, greenhouse gases such as NOx and SOx pose a major global issue that needs to be addressed. These oxides also increase the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere which are responsible for the photochemical production of ozone in the lower layers of the atmosphere which has detrimental effects. Sulfur Oxides (SOx, SO2) are the main precursors of air pollution which is a deteriorating problem as well. Producing acid rain and acidified soils, Sulfur Oxides not only result in respiratory problems such as asthma and pneumonia, but also destroy farm crops, buildings and environment, causing loss of millions of dollars every year.
• ✔ Both these gases also have detrimental effects on the environment and the iGEM Team IITD 2014 plans to combat this catastrophic effect by reducing the amount of the NOx and SOx gases ejected through the exhaust vents. We are in the process of engineering nrfA gene (that codes for nitrate reductase) in E.Coli to convert NOx to NH3 (Clarke et al;2008) and for SOx reduction we will incorporate cys1(sulfite reductase) that converts SO2 to H2S (Growth Yields and Growth Rates of. Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Marburg) Growing on Hydrogen plus Sulfate and Hydrogen plus Thiosulfate as the Sole Energy Sources, Arch. Microbiol. 117, 209-214 [1978]) and sqr (sulfide quinone reductase) to convert H2S to S. In order to realize whole sulfur metabolism pathway, we use several bioinformatics web sites such as KEGG and NCBI. We anticipate that the use of genetically engineered bacterium would subside the efficiency of existing chemical methods.

Milestones of the project

• ✔ Genetic engineering of E.Coli for Nitric Oxide (NOx) and Sulfur Oxides (SOx, SO2 ) reduction.
  • Engineer a plasmid that will express the nitrite reductase enzyme (nrfA) under a constitutive promoter for high rate of expression. The nrfA gene will be cloned from E.coli K12 strain. E. coli with the engineered plasmid would express NrfA which would convert the NOx to ammonia.
  • Engineer a plasmid that would express the Sulfite reductase (CysI or Dsr) and Sulfide-Quinone reductase (Sqr) under a constitutive promoter. CystI and Dsr will be cloned from Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Desulfovibrio Desulfuricans respectively. Sqr will be cloned from Synechococcus (SP. PCC 7942). Sulfite reductase converts SO-2 to H2S and sulfide-quinone reductase convert H2S to S.
  - (CysI or Dsr) and Sulfide-Quinone reductase (Sqr) under a constitutive promoter. CystI and Dsr will be cloned from Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Desulfovibrio Desulfuricans respectively. Sqr will be cloned from Synechococcus (SP. PCC 7942). Sulfite reductase converts SO-2 to H2S and sulfide- quinone reductase convert H2S to S. ● To test the working of the engineered bacteria for the reduction of the NOx and SOx gases. ● Simulating and modelling the prototype to optimise the reactor. ● Designing a prototype for the reduction of NOx and SOx from the exhaust gases. The prototype will have the following components. ● A small Heat Exchanger ● Bioreactor ● A medium tank