Difference between revisions of "Team:Dalhousie Halifax NS"
(Prototype team page) |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Dalhousie_Halifax_NS}} | {{Dalhousie_Halifax_NS}} | ||
<html> | <html> | ||
| − | <h2> | + | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/d/d9/Team_Dalhousie_Halifax_NS_Equation.png"> |
| − | < | + | <h2>ANTHOCYANINS</h2> |
| + | A class of pigmented (blue, red and purple) compounds which are members of the flavonoid group of phytochemicals, possessing aromatics structures with bioactive properties. They are produced through a complex biochemical pathway involving the actions of multiple enzymes, as seen in Figure 1. The initial substrate of this pathway is phenylalanine, which is a common amino acid utilized by all living organisms. Some natural sources of anthocyanins include honey, fruits and vegetables, nuts, cocoa and olive oil.<br> | ||
| + | <br> FIGURE 1 HERE<br> | ||
| + | Anthocyanin compounds are free radical scavengers which sequester harmful reactive oxygen species, thereby acting as antioxidants. Anthocyanins provide a variety of physiological benefits to humans. Some such benefits include:<br> | ||
| + | • Prevention of DNA cleavage<br> | ||
| + | • Regulation of the immune system<br> | ||
| + | • Prevention of cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline and cancer<br> | ||
| + | • Enhanced visual acuity<br> | ||
| + | • Regulation of lipid degradation<br> | ||
| + | <h2>THE OBJECTIVE</h2> | ||
| + | The mass production of anthocyanin compounds may have significant implications in the treatment and prevention of a large number of diseases and disorders. Therefore the goal of this project is to produce a recombinant strain of Escherichia coli which is capable of expressing the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway. This will lead to the visualization of a blue phenotype when the strain is cultured. This project is modelled on a previous application of synthetic biology involving the expression of the lycopene pathway in E.coli by Klein-Marcuschamer et al (2007). | ||
| + | <h2>REFERENCES</h2> | ||
| + | Klein-Marcuschamer, D., Kumaran Ajikumar, P., & Stephanopoulos, G. (2007). Engineering | ||
| + | microbial cell factories for the biosynthesis of isoprenoid molecules: Beyond lycopene. | ||
| + | Trends in Biotechnology, 25(9). 417-424. doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2007.07.006<br> | ||
| + | Lila, M.A. (2004). Anthocyanins and human health: An in vitro investigative approach. Journal | ||
| + | of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2004(5). 306-313. doi: 10.1155/S111072430440401X | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
Revision as of 15:01, 25 June 2015
| Home | Team | Project | Anthocyanins | Papers | Blueberries | Sponsors | Contact |
ANTHOCYANINS
A class of pigmented (blue, red and purple) compounds which are members of the flavonoid group of phytochemicals, possessing aromatics structures with bioactive properties. They are produced through a complex biochemical pathway involving the actions of multiple enzymes, as seen in Figure 1. The initial substrate of this pathway is phenylalanine, which is a common amino acid utilized by all living organisms. Some natural sources of anthocyanins include honey, fruits and vegetables, nuts, cocoa and olive oil.FIGURE 1 HERE
Anthocyanin compounds are free radical scavengers which sequester harmful reactive oxygen species, thereby acting as antioxidants. Anthocyanins provide a variety of physiological benefits to humans. Some such benefits include:
• Prevention of DNA cleavage
• Regulation of the immune system
• Prevention of cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline and cancer
• Enhanced visual acuity
• Regulation of lipid degradation
THE OBJECTIVE
The mass production of anthocyanin compounds may have significant implications in the treatment and prevention of a large number of diseases and disorders. Therefore the goal of this project is to produce a recombinant strain of Escherichia coli which is capable of expressing the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway. This will lead to the visualization of a blue phenotype when the strain is cultured. This project is modelled on a previous application of synthetic biology involving the expression of the lycopene pathway in E.coli by Klein-Marcuschamer et al (2007).REFERENCES
Klein-Marcuschamer, D., Kumaran Ajikumar, P., & Stephanopoulos, G. (2007). Engineering microbial cell factories for the biosynthesis of isoprenoid molecules: Beyond lycopene. Trends in Biotechnology, 25(9). 417-424. doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2007.07.006Lila, M.A. (2004). Anthocyanins and human health: An in vitro investigative approach. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2004(5). 306-313. doi: 10.1155/S111072430440401X