Difference between revisions of "Team:British Columbia"

 
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<h2> Project Description </h2>
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<p>Petroleum-derived chemicals are used as building blocks to create a variety of products we take for granted in our day to day lives. And while these molecules have proven to be critical for modern society, their overuse has had significant negative environmental and societal impacts. Microbial biocatalysts play a prominent role in the future of renewable biomass degradation into bio-equivalent chemicals that can be used directly in established industrial processes. However, there is high cost to process raw biomass into a usable form which has remained a major obstacle in successfully implementing these techniques in industry. </p>
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<p>During our brainstorming process we came up with the initial idea of using an engineered microbial community to effectively transform biomass into useful products. We were inspired by new research at our university on the expression of functional enzymes onto the S-Layer of certain strains of bacteria. We aim to use these new techniques together with traditional bacterial bio-catalytic pathways to make the processing and utilization of renewable biomass feedstocks cheaper and more efficient.  </p>
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<p>To accomplish this task, we are designing a two-part microbial community. One half will be responsible for transforming biomass feeds stalks such as lignin and cellulose into useful growth substrates. While the other half will focus on using these growth substrates for the production of useful products.  </p>
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<p>To create our biomass transforming bacterium, we will use the robust surface expression system in the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus to display biomass transforming enzymes, mimicking the cellulosomes and laccases found in natural biomass degrading bacteria. To create our production bacterium, we will engineer Escherichia coli, to produce violacein. Violacein is a high-value natural product with interesting pharmacological properties. It also has the benefit of being easily detected and quantified, allowing for the validation of our approach. When combined, these bacterial strains will be able to work together to degrade and valorize biomass. </p>
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<p>So far our team has been working to characterize a bio-bricked β-carotene construct in E. coli in order to do an initial proof of concept, we have also been working on the violacein construct. Simultaneously we have been cloning several laccases and celluloses into the s-layer protein of C. crescentus. We hope to get functional expression of our enzymes onto the s-layer and characterize the enzymatic activity to build and active model for our system which we can test by growing the two bacteria together in minimal media with restricted carbon sources. </p>
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<h2> Welcome to iGEM 2016! </h2>
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<p>Your team has been approved and you are ready to start the iGEM season! </p>
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<h5>Before you start: </h5>
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<p> Please read the following pages:</p>
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<li>  <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Requirements">Requirements page </a> </li>
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<li> <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Wiki_How-To">Wiki Requirements page</a></li>
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<li> <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Resources/Template_Documentation"> Template Documentation </a></li>
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#description{
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<h5> Styling your wiki </h5>
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<p>You may style this page as you like or you can simply leave the style as it is. You can easily keep the styling and edit the content of these default wiki pages with your project information and completely fulfill the requirement to document your project.</p>
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<p>While you may not win Best Wiki with this styling, your team is still eligible for all other awards. This default wiki meets the requirements, it improves navigability and ease of use for visitors, and you should not feel it is necessary to style beyond what has been provided.</p>
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<h5> Wiki template information </h5>
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<p>We have created these wiki template pages to help you get started and to help you think about how your team will be evaluated. You can find a list of all the pages tied to awards here at the <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Judging/Pages_for_Awards/Instructions">Pages for awards</a> link. You must edit these pages to be evaluated for medals and awards, but ultimately the design, layout, style and all other elements of your team wiki is up to you!</p>
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<p>On this page you can document your project, introduce your team members, document your progress and share your iGEM experience with the rest of the world! </p>
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<p> <a href="https://2016.igem.org/wiki/index.php?title=Team:Example&action=edit"> Click here to edit this page! </a></p>
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<h5>Tips</h5>
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<p>This wiki will be your team’s first interaction with the rest of the world, so here are a few tips to help you get started: </p>
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<li>State your accomplishments! Tell people what you have achieved from the start. </li>
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<h2 style="padding-left: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px"><strong>Harnessing microbial teamwork to degrade and valorize biomass</strong></h2>
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<li>Be clear about what you are doing and how you plan to do this.</li>
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/f/fc/T--British_Columbia--front_1.PNG" style="float: left" class="img-responsive">
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<li>You have a global audience! Consider the different backgrounds that your users come from.</li>
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<p>Development of modern biorefining processes is required to reduce our reliance on petroleum-derived chemicals and fuels. One solution has been to use microbial catalysts to transform renewable biomass into bio-equivalent chemicals. However, a major obstacle to implementing inductrial-scale bioprocesses is the high cost of processing raw biomass into a usable form.</p>
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<li>Make sure information is easy to find; nothing should be more than 3 clicks away.  </li>
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<p style="padding-right: 15px">Plant biomass, called lignocellulose, is an abundant and extremely strong polymer that has evolved to resist degradation. Inefficiencies with product yield are inevitably incurred as a consequence of the metabolic strain experienced by single microbial strains that comprise most modern bioprocessing systems. </p>
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<li>Avoid using very small fonts and low contrast colors; information should be easy to read. </li>
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<p>This year, our team aimed to make the processing and utilization of renewable biomass feedstocks cheaper and more efficient by building a microbial community able to transform biomass into useful products.</p>
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<li>Start documenting your project as early as possible; don’t leave anything to the last minute before the Wiki Freeze. For a complete list of deadlines visit the <a href="https://2016.igem.org/Calendar">iGEM 2016 calendar</a> </li>
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<li>Have lots of fun! </li>
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<h5>Inspiration</h5>
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  <source src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/4/4d/T--British_Columbia--hp-video.mp4" type="video/mp4">
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<p> You can also view other team wikis for inspiration! Here are some examples:</p>
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<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:SDU-Denmark/"> 2014 SDU Denmark </a> </li>
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<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:Aalto-Helsinki">2014 Aalto-Helsinki</a> </li>
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<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:LMU-Munich">2014 LMU-Munich</a> </li>
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<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:Michigan"> 2014 Michigan</a></li>
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<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:ITESM-Guadalajara">2014 ITESM-Guadalajara </a></li>
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<li> <a href="https://2014.igem.org/Team:SCU-China"> 2014 SCU-China </a></li>
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<h5> Uploading pictures and files </h5>
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<p> You can upload your pictures and files to the iGEM 2016 server. Remember to keep all your pictures and files within your team's namespace or at least include your team's name in the file name. <br />
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<h1 style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 25px"><big>Crescentium</big></h1>
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When you upload, set the "Destination Filename" to <code>Team:YourOfficialTeamName/NameOfFile.jpg</code>. (If you don't do this, someone else might upload a different file with the same "Destination Filename", and your file would be erased!)</p>
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/8/81/T--British_Columbia--front_3.PNG" class="img-responsive">
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<p style="text-align: center">A “divide and conquer” approach to split the tasks of biomass degradation and valorization between two microbial species, <i>Caulobacter crescentus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i>.</p>
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UPLOAD FILES
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<h3><strong>The Bacterial Community</strong></h3>
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style="float: left; max-width: 66%"><figcaption><strong><i>Caulobacter crescentus:</i></strong> The subject of novel research at the University of British Columbia, the robust surface expression system in the bacterium <i>C. crescentus</i> can be engineered to display biomass-transforming enzymes.</figcaption>
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/0/09/T--British_Columbia--front_2-flipped.PNG" class="img-responsive"
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<figcaption><strong><i>Escherichia coli:</i></strong> A well-developed industrial workhorse, <i>E. coli</i> serves as a perfect host for many engineered biosynthetic pathways that transform glucose into valuable products.</figcaption>
 
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<h3><strong>The Transformation Process</strong></h3>
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<p>When combined, we can harness the power of “microbial teamwork” to degrade and valorize biomass. <i>C. crescentus</i> surface-expressed cellulases cleave parts of lignocellulose to release glucose in to the system. <i>E. coli</i> consumes glucose and using engineered biosynthetic pathways, converts it into valuable chemicals.</p>
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Latest revision as of 03:47, 20 October 2016

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Harnessing microbial teamwork to degrade and valorize biomass

Development of modern biorefining processes is required to reduce our reliance on petroleum-derived chemicals and fuels. One solution has been to use microbial catalysts to transform renewable biomass into bio-equivalent chemicals. However, a major obstacle to implementing inductrial-scale bioprocesses is the high cost of processing raw biomass into a usable form.

Plant biomass, called lignocellulose, is an abundant and extremely strong polymer that has evolved to resist degradation. Inefficiencies with product yield are inevitably incurred as a consequence of the metabolic strain experienced by single microbial strains that comprise most modern bioprocessing systems.

This year, our team aimed to make the processing and utilization of renewable biomass feedstocks cheaper and more efficient by building a microbial community able to transform biomass into useful products.

Crescentium

A “divide and conquer” approach to split the tasks of biomass degradation and valorization between two microbial species, Caulobacter crescentus and Escherichia coli.

The Bacterial Community

Caulobacter crescentus: The subject of novel research at the University of British Columbia, the robust surface expression system in the bacterium C. crescentus can be engineered to display biomass-transforming enzymes.
Escherichia coli: A well-developed industrial workhorse, E. coli serves as a perfect host for many engineered biosynthetic pathways that transform glucose into valuable products.

The Transformation Process

When combined, we can harness the power of “microbial teamwork” to degrade and valorize biomass. C. crescentus surface-expressed cellulases cleave parts of lignocellulose to release glucose in to the system. E. coli consumes glucose and using engineered biosynthetic pathways, converts it into valuable chemicals.