Team:ULB-Brussels/Project/Introduction

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= Introduction =
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''Caulobacter crescentus'' is a gram-negative bacterium studied for the properties of its cell cycle [https://2009.igem.org/Team:ULB-Brussels/Projet/Bibliography (2)], [https://2009.igem.org/Team:ULB-Brussels/Projet/Bibliography (7)].This bacterium is widely spread in aquatic environments and exists either as a motile cell or as a sessile cell (see figure below). In the sessile stage, ''C. crescentus'' sticks to surfaces by synthesizing adhesive at the stalk, a polar organelle shown in figure below). At the tip of this appendage, a complex holdfast structure is assembled.
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Image:imageintro1.JPG|''C. crescentus'' motile cells
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Image:image2intro.PNG|''C. crescentus'' sessile cell
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This material is an elastic, gel-like adhesive substance composed of both protein and polysaccharide. The N-acetylglucosamine polymer has been identified as the main polysaccharide component [https://2009.igem.org/Team:ULB-Brussels/Projet/Bibliography (8)]. This holdfast shows unprecedented adhesive properties: the adhesive can adhere with a strength up to 68 N/mm<sup>2</sup>. In comparison, commercial superglue can withstand a force of 18-30 N/mm<sup>2</sup> [https://2009.igem.org/Team:ULB-Brussels/Projet/Bibliography (9)],[https://2009.igem.org/Team:ULB-Brussels/Projet/Bibliography (10)],[https://2009.igem.org/Team:ULB-Brussels/Projet/Bibliography (11)]. <br/>
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Since this adhesive adheres to wet surfaces, many industrial applications are foreseen. The glue has already been isolated but the challenge is to produce large amounts of glue without it sticking to the material where it is produced.
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A model of holdfast biosynthesis, export and attachment in ''C. crescentus'' has already been characterized, see Figure below, [https://2009.igem.org/Team:ULB-Brussels/Projet/Bibliography (11)].
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The hfsE hfsF hfsG hfsH genes are organized in operon and their products are required for the minimum repeat unit holdfast synthesis while the polymerization of the repeat unit of the holdfast substance needs the expression of hfsC and hfsI genes.
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The products of the 3 adjacent hfsD hfsA and hfsB genes are involved in the holdfast export. The anchoring of the holdfast polysaccharide is carried out by the hfa gene products. [https://2009.igem.org/Team:ULB-Brussels/Projet/Bibliography (12)]
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[[Image:imageintro3.JPG|thumb|600px|center|Model of holdfast biosynthesis, export, and anchoring in ''C. crescentus''. Protein names in parentheses are the ''E. coli'' homolog proteins. The inner membrane HfsE protein initiates glycosyltransferase by transferring N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) from UDP-NAG to a lipid carrier. HfsG, a second glycosyltransferase protein, transfers NAG subunits to the growing polysaccharide chain. HfsH deacetylates one or more NAG residues. The HfsF protein translocates the polysaccharide chain linked to the lipid carrier across the inner membrane. The polymerases HfsC and HfsI proteins link the NAG repeat units together. The holdfast polysaccharide is transferred across the outer membrane by HfsA, HfsB and HfsD proteins. Hfa proteins mediate the polysaccharide attachment to the cell.  The products of the 3 adjacent hfsD hfsA and hfsB genes are involved in the holdfast export. The anchoring of the holdfast polysaccharide is carried out by the hfa gene products.]]
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Our aim is to find a way of mass-producing the glue. For this purpose, we planned to transfer the ''C. crescentus'' holdfast polysaccharide biosynthesis pathway to ''Escherichia coli''.
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As ''Escherichia coli'' possesses similar genes [https://2009.igem.org/Team:ULB-Brussels/Project/Appendix Appendix] involved in the production and the export of the holdfast in ''C. crescentus'', we only inserted the hfsG and hfsH genes in an ''E. Coli'' strain : GluColi was born.
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The problem of stickiness to the material of the container used to produce the glue was not investigated. In fact, we thought it was more relevant to synthesize the glue whenever and wherever it is required, instead of focusing on the extraction of the adhesive. For this purpose, we designed a theoretical circuit using chemotaxis and quorum sensing.
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GluColi started producing an adhesive material and we begun to characterize the glue in the "Physical and chemical properties of our glue" section. The mathematical modeling will also be considered.
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<li><a href="https://2009.igem.org/Team:ULB-Brussels/Project/Introduction">Introduction</a></li>
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Latest revision as of 02:13, 22 October 2009

iGEM Team:ULB-Brussels Wiki

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Introduction

Caulobacter crescentus is a gram-negative bacterium studied for the properties of its cell cycle (2), (7).This bacterium is widely spread in aquatic environments and exists either as a motile cell or as a sessile cell (see figure below). In the sessile stage, C. crescentus sticks to surfaces by synthesizing adhesive at the stalk, a polar organelle shown in figure below). At the tip of this appendage, a complex holdfast structure is assembled.

C. crescentus motile cells

C. crescentus sessile cell

This material is an elastic, gel-like adhesive substance composed of both protein and polysaccharide. The N-acetylglucosamine polymer has been identified as the main polysaccharide component (8). This holdfast shows unprecedented adhesive properties: the adhesive can adhere with a strength up to 68 N/mm2. In comparison, commercial superglue can withstand a force of 18-30 N/mm2 (9),(10),(11).
Since this adhesive adheres to wet surfaces, many industrial applications are foreseen. The glue has already been isolated but the challenge is to produce large amounts of glue without it sticking to the material where it is produced.

A model of holdfast biosynthesis, export and attachment in C. crescentus has already been characterized, see Figure below, (11).

The hfsE hfsF hfsG hfsH genes are organized in operon and their products are required for the minimum repeat unit holdfast synthesis while the polymerization of the repeat unit of the holdfast substance needs the expression of hfsC and hfsI genes.

The products of the 3 adjacent hfsD hfsA and hfsB genes are involved in the holdfast export. The anchoring of the holdfast polysaccharide is carried out by the hfa gene products. (12)

Model of holdfast biosynthesis, export, and anchoring in C. crescentus. Protein names in parentheses are the E. coli homolog proteins. The inner membrane HfsE protein initiates glycosyltransferase by transferring N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) from UDP-NAG to a lipid carrier. HfsG, a second glycosyltransferase protein, transfers NAG subunits to the growing polysaccharide chain. HfsH deacetylates one or more NAG residues. The HfsF protein translocates the polysaccharide chain linked to the lipid carrier across the inner membrane. The polymerases HfsC and HfsI proteins link the NAG repeat units together. The holdfast polysaccharide is transferred across the outer membrane by HfsA, HfsB and HfsD proteins. Hfa proteins mediate the polysaccharide attachment to the cell. The products of the 3 adjacent hfsD hfsA and hfsB genes are involved in the holdfast export. The anchoring of the holdfast polysaccharide is carried out by the hfa gene products.


Our aim is to find a way of mass-producing the glue. For this purpose, we planned to transfer the C. crescentus holdfast polysaccharide biosynthesis pathway to Escherichia coli.

As Escherichia coli possesses similar genes Appendix involved in the production and the export of the holdfast in C. crescentus, we only inserted the hfsG and hfsH genes in an E. Coli strain : GluColi was born.

The problem of stickiness to the material of the container used to produce the glue was not investigated. In fact, we thought it was more relevant to synthesize the glue whenever and wherever it is required, instead of focusing on the extraction of the adhesive. For this purpose, we designed a theoretical circuit using chemotaxis and quorum sensing.

GluColi started producing an adhesive material and we begun to characterize the glue in the "Physical and chemical properties of our glue" section. The mathematical modeling will also be considered.

Retrieved from "http://2009.igem.org/Team:ULB-Brussels/Project/Introduction"