Module 2 - Encapsulsation Overview

Freeze Drying

Cells can be stored for extended periods of time by dehydration. However, under such conditions the integrety of both a cell's membrane and intracellular polypeptides can be compromised.

Trehalose is a disaccharide formed from two glucose molecules that provides resistance to dessication. While trehalose is naturally produced in E.coli, we hope that by upregulating its production, we can confer additional resistance to freeze drying. This would allow easy transport and storage of the final product.

OtsA and OtsB are the two genes required for trehalose production. We hope that by introducing additional copies of these genes on a plasmid we can boost trehalose production.

  About the protective effects of trehalose.