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     Welcome to the iGem Uppsala team 2015! Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are hydrocarbons—organic compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen—that are composed of multiple aromatic rings. Formally, the class is further defined as lacking further branching substituents off of these ring structures. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are a part of the pollution cycle and are found fossil fuels. PAHs containing up to six fused aromatic rings are often known as "small" PAHs, and those containing more than six aromatic rings are called "large" PAHs. These pose a longterm threat to the environment due to their sedimentation capabilites. Our team has engaged in finding pathways for degradation of PAHs.
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     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.
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    We took a twoway 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.
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    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!
 
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Revision as of 21:40, 22 July 2015

iGem Uppsala 2015

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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 twoway 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!