Team:LMU-Munich/Why Beadzillus

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==Why Beadzillus?==
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== The Filter Issue ==
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The use of filters in every day life as well as in the lab is widespread. To enlarge the surface per volume in the filter beads are commonly applied. These microbeads have a certain size and their surface feature characterizes the filter. Proteins have features (binding or enzyme reaction) which can be used if they are bound to the beads. Several companies offer such microbeads with proteins coupled to their surface by using tags.
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Filters are widely used in everyday life and within the lab. Filters, such as ''Brita'' filters for removing calcium and other contaminants from drinking water and plumbing systems are abundant. In the lab, filters (here usually refered to as columns) are used for DNA/protein purification and for protein characterization.</p>
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<font color="#000000"; size="2"><p align="justify"> Fig. 1: Filters for different applications. </p></font>
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These beads are usually out of poly styrene, are quiet expensive because in an additional working step the proteins have to be coupled to the surface. Also the proteins could become loose as they are not stably bound to the beads. In addition there is the problem of disposal of these anorganic beads.
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== Synthetic beads ==
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<p align="justify">Such filters usually consist of a cartridge that is filled with some type of matrix which determines the function of the filter. To maximize the surface in a minimal volume, microbeads are commonly used in all types of filters. These beads have a specific size and can for example be used to display protein on their surface. The coupling of proteins to the beads is based on affinity binding. An example are Ni-NTA resins (or beads) that can be used to bind proteins that harbour a His-tag. If a protein is bound this way to the beads, its features then determine the functional properties of such protein-loaded beads.
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Such beads are usually quite expensive and coupling of proteins to the beads is laborious, as the protein has to  be expressed, bound to the beads and then washed. Additionally, the binding of the protein is non-covalent. </p>
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So we thought of naturally produced biological beads which should have about the same size and be very stable. Then they should also be very cheap, the beads should directly express the protein on their surface with a stable peptide binding. Also the problem of disposal would disappear as you can burn the whole organic material.
 
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We found these biological beads with all the requirements in the spores of the soil bacteria Bacillus subtilis. Under nutrient limitation B. subtilis produces endospores which can resist environmental harsh conditions.
 
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== SynBio beads ==
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<p align="justify">To solve this problem, we have developed a synthetic biology solution in our project '''Bead'''zillus, in which biological beads display a protein of choice. We call these biological beads '''Sporo'''beads.
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But what are our biological beads made of? Using clever natural engineering millions of years ago, evolution developed endospores of the soil bacteria ''Bacillus subtilis''. Endospores, which are highly resistant to environmental stressors and can survive harsh conditions, are a dormant life stage of ''B. subtilis''. To get to know more about the life cycle and the production of endospores, have a look at the life cycle of ''B. subtilis'' on the next page.
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[[File:NEXT.png|right|80px|link=Team:LMU-Munich/Bacillus_Introduction]]  
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[[File:NEXT.png|right|80px|link=Team:LMU-Munich/Data/differentiation_tour]] [[File:BACK.png|left|80px|link=Team:LMU-Munich/Abstract]]
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====Project Navigation====
 
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|[[File:Bacilluss_Intro.png|100px|link=Team:LMU-Munich/Bacillus_Introduction]]
 
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|[[File:SporeCoat.png|100px|link=Team:LMU-Munich/Spore_Coat_Proteins]]
 
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|[[Team:LMU-Munich/Bacillus_Introduction|<font size="2">'''''Bacillus'''''<BR>Intro</font>]]
 
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|[[Team:LMU-Munich/Bacillus_BioBricks|<font size="2" face="verdana">'''''Bacillus'''''<BR>'''B'''io'''B'''rick'''B'''ox</font>]]
 
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|[[Team:LMU-Munich/Spore_Coat_Proteins|<font size="2" face="verdana">'''Sporo'''beads</font>]]
 
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|[[Team:LMU-Munich/Germination_Stop|<font size="2" face="verdana">'''Germination'''<BR>STOP</font>]]
 
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Latest revision as of 16:40, 26 October 2012

iGEM Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Beadzillus

Bacillus in urban culture.jpg

The LMU-Munich team is exuberantly happy about the great success at the World Championship Jamboree in Boston. Our project Beadzillus finished 4th and won the prize for the "Best Wiki" (with Slovenia) and "Best New Application Project".

IGEM HQ LMU prize.jpg

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