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| | <h2 style="padding-left: 1.0cm;">Project Description</h2> | | <h2 style="padding-left: 1.0cm;">Project Description</h2> |
| − | <p align="justify" style="padding-left: 1.0cm; padding-right: 1.0cm;">The following text shall inform you about what we will try to achieve this year and give you a little insight about how | + | <li> |
| − | and why we chose the topic we will work on. <br/>
| + | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/6/60/T--Aachen--projdesc.png" /> |
| − | In our brainstorming phase, the initial idea that met with broad approval in the team, included reversible inhibition
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| − | of an enzyme to improve a lab method. So we dived into research about enzyme inhibition and came up with several
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| − | possibilities and approaches. Especially "Photocaging", a method using photoliable molecules to reversibly inactivate all
| + | |
| − | kinds of compounds and reactivate them with light, really awakened interest in all of us. Along with knowledge about
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| − | inhibition, more and more application possibilities occurred and gained shape as we talked to several supporters in
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| − | academics as well as in industry.<br/>
| + | |
| − | In the end, the project that suits the iGEM spirit most and offers a highly educational and interesting experience for us,
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| − | was the inhibition of a protease for washing detergents.<br/>
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| − | So far, proteases in washing detergents are being inhibited by boric acid and tons of it are needed every year.
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| − | Its handling in this scale is complicated and additionally, the ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) classified this chemical
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| − | as a substance of very high concern. If we can make our idea work, the protease in the washing detergents would be
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| − | produced inactive and could be activated with a small, inexpensive device that can be used with any normal washing machine.
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| − | Thus, the amount of chemical needed could be reduced by a great deal, as only one molecule per enzyme is necessary for
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| − | inhibition.That would make a difference, especially for chemical workers, who have to handle tons of boric acid, but also
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| − | for every household and sewage disposal. <br/>
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| − | As a side project to the development of the “uncaging” device for the washing machine,our engineers will also work on an
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| − | affordable “Dark Bench” that will make sterile handling of light-sensitive chemicals,needed for our work, more easy.<br/>
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| − | </p> | + | |
| | </div> | | </div> |
| | </div> | | </div> |
