Modelling Group: Computationally model stain removal using enzymes

Goals

To make a computational model to analyze stain-enzyme dynamics
To find optimum parameters

Results

Developed a differential equation model to analyze stain dynamics
A computational approach using Gillespie algorithm
A computational approach using explicit finite difference method for three dimensional modelling

Methods

Matlab
ODE solvers
Gillespie Algorithm
Explicit Finite Difference method (FDM)

Abstract

To act on stains, an enzyme must be concentrated at the fabric surface. Our project began with the idea that we can effectively increase this concentration with a fabric binding domain (FBD). But does this idea hold up to detailed scrutiny? What is the optimal affinity for a stain removing enzyme? How much activity improvement can we expect to achieve? To answer these questions, we built three models of the enzyme-fabric-stain interaction: a differential equation model, a stochastic process model and a 3D reaction-diffusion model. The results of these models agreed on three main points. At low affinity, enzymes diffuse away from fabric and into solution. At high affinity, enzymes become trapped on clean sections of fabric and are unable to reach the stain. But for a wide range of conditions, enzymatic activity is optimized at a binding activity around 10^-4 M. For reference, this affinity is much lower than typical antibody-antigen interactions (10^-9 M) and is within reach of our protein engineering methods. Under realistic conditions we predict that an optimal binding domain will improve activity by 100 or 1000 fold.

Motivation and Background

Challenge: Modelling stain removal in a compact washing machine

A typical garment is composed of several square meters of fabric and a typical compact washing machine has a volme of 70 liters.

Example figure box

Results

Model1: Ode-based

Model2: Gillespie Algorithm-based

Model3: 3D modelling using FDM

Methods

Model1: Ode-based

Model2: Gillespie Algorithm-based

Model3: 3D modelling using FDM

Explicit Finite Different scheme is used to model three dimensional stain - enzyme dynamics. The enzyme is assumed to be homogeneously spread through out the spatial domain at the start of the experiment. The scheme was applied on a reaction and diffusion equation thereafter. No flux boundary condition was applied at all boundaries which specifically meant for zero enzyme loss from the system. One of the boundaries is taken as the shirt with stain (1cm^2 area). The parameters and the initial conditions used in the simulations were chosen as realistic as possible.