Difference between revisions of "Team:RHIT/Description"
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
<p>The yeast <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> is used industrially to produce valuable products via fermentation. Many of these products are made under anaerobic conditions, when the electron transport chain (ETC) in mitochondria lacks the terminal electron acceptor and oxidative phosphorylation ceases. The goal of our project is to control aerobic respiration by manipulating the expression of mitochondrial ribosomal protein S12 (MRPS12). This protein, which is encoded by the nuclear <i>MRPS12</i> gene, is essential for the function of mitochondrial ribosomes and the synthesis of key components of the electron transport chain. With this goal in mind, we designed a yeast-optimized MRPS12 translational unit along with a BioBrick compatible GPD expression vector. We propose that the production of secondary metabolites in yeast could be optimized by purposefully regulating aerobic respiration during industrial fermentations.<br><br> | <p>The yeast <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> is used industrially to produce valuable products via fermentation. Many of these products are made under anaerobic conditions, when the electron transport chain (ETC) in mitochondria lacks the terminal electron acceptor and oxidative phosphorylation ceases. The goal of our project is to control aerobic respiration by manipulating the expression of mitochondrial ribosomal protein S12 (MRPS12). This protein, which is encoded by the nuclear <i>MRPS12</i> gene, is essential for the function of mitochondrial ribosomes and the synthesis of key components of the electron transport chain. With this goal in mind, we designed a yeast-optimized MRPS12 translational unit along with a BioBrick compatible GPD expression vector. We propose that the production of secondary metabolites in yeast could be optimized by purposefully regulating aerobic respiration during industrial fermentations.<br><br> | ||
| + | |||
| + | <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/5/57/RHIT_HOMEPAGE.png"> | ||
<i>MRPS12</i> can be controlled by a repressible promoter, allowing for regulation of gene expression. One example is the CTR1 promoter system. This system uses copper ions to repress gene expression. Therefore, when copper is present, <i>MRPS12</i> is not expressed and aerobic respiration would not occur, forcing the cells to ferment. However, copper chelator bathocuprione disulfonate (BCS), which has a higher affinity for copper ions, could then be added to the system, depressing the gene and allowing aerobic respiration to occur.<br><br> | <i>MRPS12</i> can be controlled by a repressible promoter, allowing for regulation of gene expression. One example is the CTR1 promoter system. This system uses copper ions to repress gene expression. Therefore, when copper is present, <i>MRPS12</i> is not expressed and aerobic respiration would not occur, forcing the cells to ferment. However, copper chelator bathocuprione disulfonate (BCS), which has a higher affinity for copper ions, could then be added to the system, depressing the gene and allowing aerobic respiration to occur.<br><br> | ||
Hypothetically a system like the one above could be employed in an industrial setting. Yeast growth follows an S-curve, with secondary metabolite generation occurring at the end of the exponential phase into the stationary phase. By regulating aerobic respiration, these yeast could begin generating secondary metabolites sooner and therefore can produce more over their lifespan. Additionally, if products could be consumed by the yeast after fermentation a switch could prevent this consumption.<br><br> | Hypothetically a system like the one above could be employed in an industrial setting. Yeast growth follows an S-curve, with secondary metabolite generation occurring at the end of the exponential phase into the stationary phase. By regulating aerobic respiration, these yeast could begin generating secondary metabolites sooner and therefore can produce more over their lifespan. Additionally, if products could be consumed by the yeast after fermentation a switch could prevent this consumption.<br><br> | ||
Revision as of 19:26, 18 September 2015
Project Description
The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is used industrially to produce valuable products via fermentation. Many of these products are made under anaerobic conditions, when the electron transport chain (ETC) in mitochondria lacks the terminal electron acceptor and oxidative phosphorylation ceases. The goal of our project is to control aerobic respiration by manipulating the expression of mitochondrial ribosomal protein S12 (MRPS12). This protein, which is encoded by the nuclear MRPS12 gene, is essential for the function of mitochondrial ribosomes and the synthesis of key components of the electron transport chain. With this goal in mind, we designed a yeast-optimized MRPS12 translational unit along with a BioBrick compatible GPD expression vector. We propose that the production of secondary metabolites in yeast could be optimized by purposefully regulating aerobic respiration during industrial fermentations.
MRPS12 can be controlled by a repressible promoter, allowing for regulation of gene expression. One example is the CTR1 promoter system. This system uses copper ions to repress gene expression. Therefore, when copper is present, MRPS12 is not expressed and aerobic respiration would not occur, forcing the cells to ferment. However, copper chelator bathocuprione disulfonate (BCS), which has a higher affinity for copper ions, could then be added to the system, depressing the gene and allowing aerobic respiration to occur.
Hypothetically a system like the one above could be employed in an industrial setting. Yeast growth follows an S-curve, with secondary metabolite generation occurring at the end of the exponential phase into the stationary phase. By regulating aerobic respiration, these yeast could begin generating secondary metabolites sooner and therefore can produce more over their lifespan. Additionally, if products could be consumed by the yeast after fermentation a switch could prevent this consumption.
Our goal is to show that a control system, such as the repressible CTR1 promoter system, can control aerobic respiration in yeast by manipulating components necessary for this process.