Achivement

We made a new biobrick part and succeeded synthesizing Polyhydroixyalkanoates(PHAs). In our project, we designed rose silhouette to enhance the balcony scene of “Romeo and Juliet” by the synthesis of PHAs.

What is PHA?

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Polyhydroixyalkanoates(PHAs) are biological polyester synthesized by a wide range of bacteria, and can be produced by fermentation from renewable carbon sources such as sugars and vegetable oils. These polyesters are biodegradable thermoplastics and elastomers, which exhibit interesting material properties. Bacteria produce PHAs for the storage of carbon and energy. When the bacteria can’t get enough nutrients from outside, these PHAs will be degraded and used as energy source. This function is quite similar to the one of lipid in human body. PHAs are also a kind of bio plastics, which can be biodegraded a lot faster than fossil-fuel plastics in the environment. Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, P(3HB) is the most common type of PHAs. P(3HB) is synthesized by the enzymes coded in the gene of PHA synthesis (phaC1-A-B1) from Ralstonia eutropha H16.

Production of PHAs by E.coli

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DNA construction

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asssay

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(1)Nile Red

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(2)Nile Blue

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Perspective

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Reference