Difference between revisions of "Team:Duke"

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      <h2>AFFORDABLE, SAFER CANCER MEDS</h2>
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      <p>WE INCREASE TAXOL SAFETY AND PRODUCTION DRAMATICALLY <br /> BY USING CONTROLLED BACTERIAL PRODUCERS</p>
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      <h2>PREVENT TAXOL SOURCE PLANT EXTINCTION</h2>
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      <p>TAXOL PLANT IS OVERHARVESTED <br /> DUKE IGEM's ENGINEERED BACTERIA WILL TAKE OVER ALL PRODUCTIOn</p>
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      <h2>HERE IS BREAKING BAD HAPPENING</h2>
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      <p> IT'S A REALLY GOOD SHOW!<br/></p>
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<h2> Welcome to iGEM 2016! </h2>
 
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<p>We are Team Duke! </p>
 
  
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<h2>Our Project</h2>
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<h3 style="text-align:center;">Biosynthesis of Taxol in <i>E.coli</i></h3>
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<h4>What is Taxol? Why is it important?</h4>
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Taxol, generically known as paclitaxel, is a chemotherapy drug highly efficient in combating multiple forms of cancer via interference with the normal breakdown of microtubules during cell division. Taxol’s efficacy has earned it a place on the World Health Organization’s Model List of Essential Medicines, a roster of the most critical medications needed for a basic health system.
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<section class="bg-primary" id="about" style="background-image: url(https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/c/c3/T--Duke--Canada_and_.jpeg); background-size: cover; background-position: center">
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                    <h1 class="section-heading"> <u>How to Produce Lots of <br/>Cancer Drugs Sustainably?</u></h1>
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                <p class="text-right" style="color: black;font-family: Indie Flower; Comic Sans MS; font-size: 30px;">Presented by Duke iGEM <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/c/c4/T--Duke--logo_and_.jpeg" width="10%"></p>
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/0/0d/Tax.gif"/>
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<figcaption border= "1px dotted blue" text-align= "center"> Fig1. - Rotating Paclitaxel Molecule Model.</figcaption>
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<h4>Serious Issues with Taxol Production</h4>
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Not surprisingly, there is an ever-increasing demand for taxol. Unfortunately, current production methods for the drug do not provide a long-term, sustainable supply. Taxol is derived from the bark of the Pacific yew tree, <i>Taxus brevifolia</i>, but isolation from its natural source is hindered by the slow growth of the tree and by the low concentration of the drug in the bark. Consequentially, large numbers of yew trees must be harvested for modest returns. Other production methods make use of chemical and semi-chemical synthesis, but the intricate stereoisomerism and multistep pathway of taxol production result in low yield rates and high production costs. Deriving taxol from nature is environmentally unsustainable; chemically synthesizing it is economically unsustainable.  
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Biosynthesis of taxol is the best solution to the shortcomings of the aforementioned production methods. Plant cell fermentation has been shown to synthesize taxol somewhat effectively and requires minimal harvesting of the yew tree. As impressive as plant cell fermentation is, the potential for taxol synthesis in bacteria, an organism much simpler and far more optimized for fermentation, is vastly greater. Duke iGEM’s goal is to optimize the biosynthesis of taxol in <i>E.coli</i>.  
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<h2 style="color:#337ab7; font-family: Muli"><span class="glyphicon glyphicon-question-sign" aria-hidden="true"></span> Identifying Cancer Drug in Short Supply</h2>
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<p>Our case is taxol, a famous chemotherapy drug that derives its chemistry from Pacific Yew Tree barks.</p>
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<object data="https://sketchfab.com/models/8369d9d8ca004aa3b994cb0e2f392471/embed" width="500px" height="300px">
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    Error: Embedded data could not be displayed.
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<h4 style="font-family:Raleway; display:block; margin-right:1em;text-align:center">Annotated Taxol 2D Structure <span class="text-muted">(3D Structure in Project Page)</span></h4>
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<h6>PDB Citation: Bank, RCSB Protein Data. "TAXOL." RCSB PDB. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.</h6>
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      <p style="font-family: Raleway; font-size:20px">The lack of chemotherapy drugs risks patients' lives. Taxol is a famous and effective cancer drug whose production rests on the steady supply of Pacific Yew Trees. However, as more people develop cancer, Pacific Yew Trees are being overharvested and endangered.</p>
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  <p style="font-family: Raleway; font-size:20px">In the forseeable future, there will be fewer Yew Trees. Taxol will become less affordable for patients. Worse, when Yew Trees become extinct, Taxol will lose its most essential ingredient. What can we do?</p>
  
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<h4>Our Solution</h4>
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  <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/b/b1/T--Duke--taxolplant_and_.jpeg" class="center" width="50%">
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Our primary objective is to individually characterize and then consolidate known enzymes of the taxol biosynthesis pathway into a single strain of <i>E.coli</i>. As such, our research plan consists primarily of two components: a cloning project and kinetic assays to characterize the system. Additionally, the existing enzymes as found in published literature may be insufficient for highly effective production of taxol. In their current states, the enzymes have a wide range of turnover rates that would lead to bottlenecks in the pathway even with high expression. Optimization projects targeting the enzymes with the lowest turnover rates will be undertaken to remedy the bottlenecks.
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<h4>Our Progress</h4>
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Currently, we have successfully cloned the majority of our enzymes into <i>E.coli</i> using Gibson assembly and are in the early stages of kinetic assays, most of which take advantage of CoA chemistry. Once cloning and assays are complete, we will combine the enzymes into one plasmid via Golden Gate assembly.  
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      <p style="font-family: Raleway; font-size:20px">After an analysis of Yew Trees' genetic structure relevant to taxol production, we identified eight genetic processes. And these genes are transferrable!</p>
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<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; More efficient synthesis of taxol will lower the cost of the drug and its production, but this cost is not the only determining factor of accessibility. In order to understand how lowering the cost of drug production will translate into more available treatment, members of Duke iGEM with experience in bioethics, pharmaceutical patent law, and economics are analyzing and modeling the actual cost of taxol treatment by taking into account healthcare systems and distribution logistics.
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  <p style="font-family: Raleway; font-size:20px">Therefore, it's possible to teach someone else to produce Yew Trees' stuff. The next important step is to find the perfect replacement producer to relieve Yew Trees of their noble duty.</p>
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  <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/4/47/T--Duke--concentratingscientist_and_.jpeg" class="center" width="50%">
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<h2 style="color:#337ab7;font-family: Muli" ><span class="glyphicon glyphicon-search" aria-hidden="true"></span> Rethink the Production Process</h2>
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<p>Why don't we get a new producer for this essential taxol ingredient? Our solution will dramatically increase taxol production, create Pacific Yew Trees a permanent break from overharvest and danger of extinction. </p>
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<h2 style="color:#337ab7;font-family: Muli"><span class="glyphicon glyphicon-sunglasses" aria-hidden="true"></span> Bacteria!</h2>
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<p>Bacterial Production in a controlled lab is safer and sustainable, with a dramatically larger yield!</p>
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</header>
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      <p style="font-family: Raleway; font-size:20px">At Duke iGEM, we have already begun the process of sequentially arranging these genes and growing bacteria with their new powers. </p>
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  <p style="font-family: Raleway; font-size:20px">Therefore, it's possible to teach someone else to produce Yew Trees' stuff. The next important step is to find the perfect replacement producer to relieve Yew Trees of their noble duty.</p>
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    </div>
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    <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2016/b/bf/T--Duke--bacteria_and_.jpeg" class="center" width="40%">
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Revision as of 02:26, 29 September 2016

How to Produce Lots of
Cancer Drugs Sustainably?

Presented by Duke iGEM

Identifying Cancer Drug in Short Supply

Our case is taxol, a famous chemotherapy drug that derives its chemistry from Pacific Yew Tree barks.

Error: Embedded data could not be displayed.

Annotated Taxol 2D Structure (3D Structure in Project Page)

PDB Citation: Bank, RCSB Protein Data. "TAXOL." RCSB PDB. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.

The lack of chemotherapy drugs risks patients' lives. Taxol is a famous and effective cancer drug whose production rests on the steady supply of Pacific Yew Trees. However, as more people develop cancer, Pacific Yew Trees are being overharvested and endangered.

In the forseeable future, there will be fewer Yew Trees. Taxol will become less affordable for patients. Worse, when Yew Trees become extinct, Taxol will lose its most essential ingredient. What can we do?

After an analysis of Yew Trees' genetic structure relevant to taxol production, we identified eight genetic processes. And these genes are transferrable!

Therefore, it's possible to teach someone else to produce Yew Trees' stuff. The next important step is to find the perfect replacement producer to relieve Yew Trees of their noble duty.

Rethink the Production Process

Why don't we get a new producer for this essential taxol ingredient? Our solution will dramatically increase taxol production, create Pacific Yew Trees a permanent break from overharvest and danger of extinction.

Bacteria!

Bacterial Production in a controlled lab is safer and sustainable, with a dramatically larger yield!

At Duke iGEM, we have already begun the process of sequentially arranging these genes and growing bacteria with their new powers.

Therefore, it's possible to teach someone else to produce Yew Trees' stuff. The next important step is to find the perfect replacement producer to relieve Yew Trees of their noble duty.

@ 2016 Duke University iGEM