IGEM:MIT/2006/System brainstorming/Scent subprojects: Difference between revisions
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introduce the minty fresh smelling coding region/enzyme into an already discovered genetically engineered strain of Streptococcus mutans bacteria so that | introduce the minty fresh smelling coding region/enzyme into an already discovered genetically engineered strain of Streptococcus mutans bacteria so that | ||
bacteria will produce good breath odor whenever you eat sugar (glucose) | bacteria will produce good breath odor whenever you eat sugar (glucose). Actually we should try the glucose regulator in e.coli first (prob easier system) and see if | ||
we can get the presence/controlled introduction of glucose to selectively turn a switch "ON" for intracellular production of salicylic acid (or whatever needed to activate the desired scent producing enzyme) | |||
SUMMARY: | SUMMARY: | ||
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Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium that inhabits the human mouth, causes cavities by converting sugar into enamel-corroding lactic acid. Dr. Jeffrey D. Hillman of the University of Florida College of Dentistry in Gainesville has developed a genetically modified strain of the bug that doesn't make lactic acid, but is able to shoulder out competing bacteria. The new bacterium, dubbed BCS3-L1, could prevent cavities by colonizing the mouth and getting rid of its cavity-causing cousin. This new GM "good bug" was publicly announced in 2002 and experimental treatment has been successful in animals. Also it was approved for human trials by the FDA in 2004, and is currently in phase I of those trials. Funding has been secured and this new product is proposed to be on the market by 2008. | Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium that inhabits the human mouth, causes cavities by converting sugar into enamel-corroding lactic acid. Dr. Jeffrey D. Hillman of the University of Florida College of Dentistry in Gainesville has developed a genetically modified strain of the bug that doesn't make lactic acid, but is able to shoulder out competing bacteria. The new bacterium, dubbed BCS3-L1, could prevent cavities by colonizing the mouth and getting rid of its cavity-causing cousin. This new GM "good bug" was publicly announced in 2002 and experimental treatment has been successful in animals. Also it was approved for human trials by the FDA in 2004, and is currently in phase I of those trials. Funding has been secured and this new product is proposed to be on the market by 2008. | ||
Currently, the cavity industry supplies dentists with nearly half of their annual income (around 27 billion dollars). Sucks for dentists i guess, but its pretty cool that cavities may soon be eliminated (think 3rd world countries), but why not eliminate bad breath in the american glucose-consuming population as well? | Currently, the cavity industry supplies dentists with nearly half of their annual income (around 27 billion dollars). Sucks for dentists, i guess, but its pretty cool that cavities may soon be eliminated (think 3rd world countries), but why not eliminate bad breath in the american glucose-consuming population as well? | ||
It seems to me that there is a high likelihood that OraGenics will succeed in getting their new mutant strain of Streptococcus on the market. While they are working | It seems to me that there is a high likelihood that OraGenics will succeed in getting their new mutant strain of Streptococcus on the market. While they are working | ||
on that, we could further play with this bacteria -- i.e. introduce the scent enzyme into this bacteria and control the enzyme's activity through glucose levels | on that, we could further play with this bacteria -- i.e. introduce the scent enzyme into this bacteria and control the enzyme's activity through glucose levels. Hopefully it would work and become an added bonus to their gel/mouthwash product | ||
Also, it looks like i'm not totally out of my mind because the 2005 team thought of something similar --- but I don't think that they knew about streptococcus mutans, so maybe the challenge would be getting this system working in e. coli and then putting it modularly into this other cellular organism | |||
Check out: | |||
< IGEM:MIT | 2005 | |||
Somehow, if we can get mouth bacterial cells to take up R(-)carvones (spearamint) and excrete it shortly after encountering food (glucose?) <-- looks like a glucose-sensing-carvone-excreting experiment to me. Possible problem might be getting both enantiomers of the compound. Which would give us some gingergrassy smell. Mmm, better than bad breath, eh? | |||
Methyl salicylate is probably easier to make. Check out this reference: | |||
Negre F, Kolosova N, Knoll J, Kish CM, Dudareva N. Novel S-adenosyl-L-methionine:salicylic acid carboxyl methyltransferase, an enzyme responsible for biosynthesis of methyl salicylate and methyl benzoate, is not involved in floral scent production in snapdragon flowers. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2002 Oct 15;406(2):261-70. | |||
This article captures the last stage of synthesis and expresses it in E. coli. Salicylic acid is supplied exogenously. | |||
REFERENCES: | A FEW OF MY REFERENCES: | ||
1. http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn1941 | 1. http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn1941 | ||
Revision as of 20:43, 5 June 2006
Subproject 1: idea/references (if you wanna check out):
IDEA:
introduce the minty fresh smelling coding region/enzyme into an already discovered genetically engineered strain of Streptococcus mutans bacteria so that bacteria will produce good breath odor whenever you eat sugar (glucose). Actually we should try the glucose regulator in e.coli first (prob easier system) and see if we can get the presence/controlled introduction of glucose to selectively turn a switch "ON" for intracellular production of salicylic acid (or whatever needed to activate the desired scent producing enzyme)
SUMMARY:
Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium that inhabits the human mouth, causes cavities by converting sugar into enamel-corroding lactic acid. Dr. Jeffrey D. Hillman of the University of Florida College of Dentistry in Gainesville has developed a genetically modified strain of the bug that doesn't make lactic acid, but is able to shoulder out competing bacteria. The new bacterium, dubbed BCS3-L1, could prevent cavities by colonizing the mouth and getting rid of its cavity-causing cousin. This new GM "good bug" was publicly announced in 2002 and experimental treatment has been successful in animals. Also it was approved for human trials by the FDA in 2004, and is currently in phase I of those trials. Funding has been secured and this new product is proposed to be on the market by 2008.
Currently, the cavity industry supplies dentists with nearly half of their annual income (around 27 billion dollars). Sucks for dentists, i guess, but its pretty cool that cavities may soon be eliminated (think 3rd world countries), but why not eliminate bad breath in the american glucose-consuming population as well?
It seems to me that there is a high likelihood that OraGenics will succeed in getting their new mutant strain of Streptococcus on the market. While they are working on that, we could further play with this bacteria -- i.e. introduce the scent enzyme into this bacteria and control the enzyme's activity through glucose levels. Hopefully it would work and become an added bonus to their gel/mouthwash product
Also, it looks like i'm not totally out of my mind because the 2005 team thought of something similar --- but I don't think that they knew about streptococcus mutans, so maybe the challenge would be getting this system working in e. coli and then putting it modularly into this other cellular organism
Check out: < IGEM:MIT | 2005 Somehow, if we can get mouth bacterial cells to take up R(-)carvones (spearamint) and excrete it shortly after encountering food (glucose?) <-- looks like a glucose-sensing-carvone-excreting experiment to me. Possible problem might be getting both enantiomers of the compound. Which would give us some gingergrassy smell. Mmm, better than bad breath, eh?
Methyl salicylate is probably easier to make. Check out this reference:
Negre F, Kolosova N, Knoll J, Kish CM, Dudareva N. Novel S-adenosyl-L-methionine:salicylic acid carboxyl methyltransferase, an enzyme responsible for biosynthesis of methyl salicylate and methyl benzoate, is not involved in floral scent production in snapdragon flowers. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2002 Oct 15;406(2):261-70.
This article captures the last stage of synthesis and expresses it in E. coli. Salicylic acid is supplied exogenously.
A FEW OF MY REFERENCES:
1. http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn1941
2.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/08/050814175146.htm
3. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6629884
4. http://sec.edgar-online.com/2004/03/17/0001144204-04-003117/Section2.asp
