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Abstract

Nature is a biologist’s working bench - and as such we like to keep it tidy. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a major pollutant derived from human activity - coil burning, oil spills, gasification plant waste. It’s carcinogenic, insoluble in water and hard to degrade. Thankfully, we’re also engineers and we decided to help nature do it’s thing.

We took a two-way approach for the project first we’ll enhance E.coli with the ability to degrade PAHs by inserting a biobrick construct containing laccase a powerful enzyme that helps get rid of those pesky compounds. And second, we’ll develop a biosensor, so that bacteria don’t waste their time producing enzymes when there is nothing to break down.

PAHs are a major problem because they are stable and hydrophobic meaning once an area is polluted, cleaning up is very hard like trying to wash a greasy pan by dipping it in cold water! By using the help of bacteria, these contaminants can be removed from the environment (for example in wastewater treatment plants). Best of all it will require minimum effort, because bacteria will degrade the compounds all by themselves, and with pleasure. Imagine eating doughnuts for homework!

Enzymatic Degradation

Biosurfactants

Naphtalene Pathway