Team:Northwestern/Project/Chitin Synthesis

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!align="center"|[[Team:Northwestern/Acknowledgements|<span style="color:#000000;">'''Acknowledgements'''</span>]]
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<td><a href="https://2010.igem.org/Team:Northwestern/Project/Chassis"><img width="100" class="icon" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2010/a/a6/Nuchassis.jpg"></a></td>
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<td align="center">Modeling</td>
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<td align="center">Chassis</td>
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<td align="center">Induction</td>
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<td align="center">Chitin</td>
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<td align="center">Apoptosis</td>
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Chitin is an abundant biopolymer found primarily in the exoskeletons of arthropods, including many insects and crustaceans. Composed of N-acetylglucosamine monomers (Figure 1), it functions analogously to keratin in mammalian skin, providing a support matrix for the protective outer surface of these animals. Similarly, most fungi produce chitin in their cell walls for structural support. Chitin production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae depends on a series of enzymatic steps (Figure 2).[[image:chitin_wikipedia.png|frame|right|alt=alt text|'''Figure 1''' Chitin molecular structure. <br /> Source: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitin  Wikipedia - Chitin]]] <br />
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One enzyme in this pathway, chitin synthase 3 (CHS3), was previously found to be among the most active chitin sythases in the chitin synthase family of enzymes and does not require additional cofactors to function. As a result, we use CHS3 as the chitin production mechanism in our inducible system ([http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K418007 BBa_K418007]). [[image:chitin synthesis small.jpg|frame|center|alt=alt text|'''Figure 2''' Chitin synthesis pathway. <br /> Adapted from Figure 3.1 of <u>Chitin: Fulfilling a Biomaterials Promise</u> by Eugene Khor.]]<br />
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Chitin has many applications, particularly in medicine and industry. Currently, nearly all chitin is obtained from natural sources (i.e. shells of crustaceans). Thus, a method of recombinant chitin production may have commercial applications. Several examples of chitin usage are listed below:
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===Forward Primer===
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'''SIGNIFICANCE OF CHITIN''':
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===Reverse Primer===
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<u>Medicinal Use</u>:
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===Staining: Calcofluor===
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*Wound and burn treatment/healing
 +
*Hemostasis for orthopedic treatment of broken bones
 +
*Viscoelastic solutions for ophthamology and orthopedic surgery
 +
*Abdominal adhesion treatment
 +
*Antibacterial and antifungal agents
 +
*Tumor therapies
 +
*Microsurgery and neurosurgery
 +
*Treatment of chronic wounds, ulcers and bleeding (chitin powder)   
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Binds to chitin polymers
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<u>Industrial Use</u>:
 +
 +
*Food/Pharmaceutical/Agricultural/Cosmetic thickener, stabilizer
 +
*Agricultural protection
 +
*Water resistant properties
 +
*Dietary supplement
 +
*Water purification
 +
*Edible microcrystalline films used to preserve food
 +
*Sequestering of particles (i.e. oil)
 +
*Biodegradable/non-pollutant

Latest revision as of 20:11, 25 October 2010


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Modeling Chassis Induction Chitin Apoptosis


Chitin is an abundant biopolymer found primarily in the exoskeletons of arthropods, including many insects and crustaceans. Composed of N-acetylglucosamine monomers (Figure 1), it functions analogously to keratin in mammalian skin, providing a support matrix for the protective outer surface of these animals. Similarly, most fungi produce chitin in their cell walls for structural support. Chitin production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae depends on a series of enzymatic steps (Figure 2).
alt text
Figure 1 Chitin molecular structure.
Source: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitin Wikipedia - Chitin]

One enzyme in this pathway, chitin synthase 3 (CHS3), was previously found to be among the most active chitin sythases in the chitin synthase family of enzymes and does not require additional cofactors to function. As a result, we use CHS3 as the chitin production mechanism in our inducible system ([http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K418007 BBa_K418007]).
alt text
Figure 2 Chitin synthesis pathway.
Adapted from Figure 3.1 of Chitin: Fulfilling a Biomaterials Promise by Eugene Khor.


Chitin has many applications, particularly in medicine and industry. Currently, nearly all chitin is obtained from natural sources (i.e. shells of crustaceans). Thus, a method of recombinant chitin production may have commercial applications. Several examples of chitin usage are listed below:

SIGNIFICANCE OF CHITIN:

Medicinal Use:

  • Wound and burn treatment/healing
  • Hemostasis for orthopedic treatment of broken bones
  • Viscoelastic solutions for ophthamology and orthopedic surgery
  • Abdominal adhesion treatment
  • Antibacterial and antifungal agents
  • Tumor therapies
  • Microsurgery and neurosurgery
  • Treatment of chronic wounds, ulcers and bleeding (chitin powder)

Industrial Use:

  • Food/Pharmaceutical/Agricultural/Cosmetic thickener, stabilizer
  • Agricultural protection
  • Water resistant properties
  • Dietary supplement
  • Water purification
  • Edible microcrystalline films used to preserve food
  • Sequestering of particles (i.e. oil)
  • Biodegradable/non-pollutant