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Team:Imperial College London/M2/EncapsulationRationale
From 2009.igem.org
Module 2 - Encapsulsation Overview
To ferry polypeptides through the stomach, each of our microcapsules must withstand the rigours of a heated protease–rich acid bath. Let there be no illusions, this is no mean feat. The stomach is a highly evolved microbe–mincer that few chassis have the potential to withstand. What is more, since our microcapsules are inanimate, we cannot rely on any of the active acid–resistance strategies that living bacteria are able to deploy.
To tackle this seemingly insurmountable problem we adopted a two phase approach.
Phase 1: Identify a suitable chassis with the genotypic potential for acid–resistance.
Phase 2:Manipulate endogenous acid resistance pathways to control the acid resistant phenotype.
Phase 1:
Our rationale for looking for natural sources of acid resistance is that it is easier to hack existing pathways than to transfer large numbers of genes into a different chassis with a dissimilar genetic background.
Based on natural sources of acid resistance, Lactobacillus, E.coli and B.subtilis were shortlisted as potential chassis.
Of these three organisms, E.coli was chosen as it is safe, easy to work with and possesses a broad range of acid resistance strategies.
Phase 2:
We hacked E.coli’s acid resistance module in three places to achieve the production of a safe acid resistant capsule.
Acid Resistant Polymer – Colanic acid: E.coli naturally produces a harmless acid–resistant polymer known as colanic acid. Colanic acid is a polymer of glucose, galactose and glucuronic acid. By tapping into the pathway that initiates colanic acid biosynthesis, we can turn on its production via the modulation of a transcription factor encoded by a gene called RcsB.
About RcsB
Safety – Biofilm prevention:
In nature, colanic acid acts as a binding agent between individual cells over which a biofilm can be formed. While colanic acid itself is harmless, biofilm formation is associated with a number of virulence factors. To prevent biofilm formation from occurring, we have tapped into a second pathway such that our cells become locked into colanic acid production. The gene responsible for preventing biofilm formation is a transcription factor encoded by a gene called YgiV.
About YgiV
Microencapsulation – Colanic acid tethering:
In nature, colanic acid is associated with but not attached to the cell surface. To facilitate whole cell encapsulation, we have modified a third pathway to fix the colanic acid to the surface of the cell. This involves the over–production of an enzyme called Rfal.
About Rfal
