Team:Tokyo Metropolitan/Project/Fiber

Introduction

What is Bacterial Cellulose?

It is Cellulose that Bacteria produce. Especially, it is famous for which produced by Acetobacter. It is being used as commercial materials and foods. For example, nata de coco. But, in the future, we think that we can use it for kinds of fields!! More and More!!!! For example, the basis of the plate type display. Organic Electro-Luminescence, this photo, is very thin. Its thickness is 5centimeter. It will be possible to use as the basis material of display which is thinner than present one.

Why do they use for kinds of fields?

First, this diameter is small. BC has 1/100-1/1000 size than plant Cellulose. Left photo is plant cellulose (PC). Their scale size is different. But we can see that BC is thinner than that. Second, BC can built more dense structure than PC. And the percentage of cellulose is more than that of PC. That is what degree of purity is very high!! By that, we have an advantage that the cost is low. Therefore, BC is able to form dense structure. And we can make high quality filter. Another, BC has an advantage that we can suit ourselves to manufacture the vent size. And people use them for medical pad because they has dense structure and moisture-retaining properity. Third, if special plastic get through BC, they become a hard and thin material. This material is used for organic EL and electronic paper. Moreover, they are very hard and flexible. So, sounds pass on speedily. If we use for auto body, car become light and get good mileage.

Approach

I introduced that we expect to use for kinds of fields because BC has many material characterization. But the problem remains. The big issue is to product Cellulose. Low product and high cost. I heard a report that BC use technology is developing. So, if we solve that issue, our project has big meaning.

◆Mechanism E.coli is able to synthesize to UDP-glucose on this process. In other wards, we suggest that if E.coli has cascade of synthesize and release cellulose, E.coli can produce BC. The synthesis enzyme is bacteria Cellulose Synthase（bcs）. So, our main task is inducing bcs to E.coli from A.xylinum. Moreover, similar gene exists on E.coli and we try to overexpress it.

We use bcsA~D(BC synthetic gene) by Acetobacter.

<Participations>
-bcsA：polymerize and regulate Cellulose
-bcsB：save polymerize and regulate Cellulose as a catalyst
-bcsC：form pathway to belch out Cellulose
-bcsD：belch out Cellulose

Model

we expect to make this design.(cf. right picture)
We use log phase expression system and bcs, and promote Cellulose by forming bcs complex.

Future

If this project is succeeded, we can contribute to put into practical use and develop BC. Then, new technology for Bacteria Cellulose will develop and our life style will go up!! And also if BC alternates plant pulp as paper product, we can contribute environmental issue.

What we put in Biobrick leads to make new Biobricks by combinning with ever parts.

Reference