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Team:TU Munich/Project/Overview
From 2012.igem.org
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=== Xanthohumol === | === Xanthohumol === | ||
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| + | Xanthohumol is known as a putative cancer chemopreventive agent, due to its antioxidant activities (Miranda et al., 2000).(2) Our goal is a heterologous gene expression of all enzymes required for xanthohumol biosynthesis in S. cerevisiae. The pathway for the production of this plant secondary metabolite is composed of five steps, starting with the conversion of phenylalanine and followed by four further enzymatic reactions. | ||
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| + | === Limonene === | ||
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| + | Limonene is a cyclic terpene and a major constituent of several citrus oils. D-Limonene has been used as a component of flavorings and fragrances. It is formed from geranyl pyrophosphate by limonene synthase. We will produce the flavoring substance limonene by expressing limonene synthase in S. cerevisiae which naturally synthesizes the educt geranyl pyrophosphate. | ||
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| + | === Thaumatin === | ||
Thaumatin is a natural α+β-protein which is synthesized by the katamfe plant (''Thaumatococcus daniellii''), it is said to be 2.000 to 100.000 times sweeter than sucrose on molar basis, but the sweetness builds slow and lasts long. It has been approved as a sweetener by the European Union (E957). | Thaumatin is a natural α+β-protein which is synthesized by the katamfe plant (''Thaumatococcus daniellii''), it is said to be 2.000 to 100.000 times sweeter than sucrose on molar basis, but the sweetness builds slow and lasts long. It has been approved as a sweetener by the European Union (E957). | ||
Our aim is to have ''S. cerevisiae secrete'' functional Thaumatin by expressing Preprothaumatin – a principle which has been proven by Edens et al. in 1984.(1) | Our aim is to have ''S. cerevisiae secrete'' functional Thaumatin by expressing Preprothaumatin – a principle which has been proven by Edens et al. in 1984.(1) | ||
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| + | === Caffeine === | ||
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| + | Caffeine is a purine-alkaloid and its biosynthesis is known from coffee plants and tea plants.(3) It can block specific receptors in the hypothalamus in a competitive manner, which leads to decreased neurotransmitter-release and therefore decreased neuron activity. The biosynthetic pathway of caffeine starts with xanthosine, which is a natural component of the purine-metabolism of all organism and involves a total of 3 enzymes. | ||
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| + | == References == | ||
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| + | * [1] Synthesis and processing of the plant protein thaumatin in yeast | ||
| + | Luppo Edens, Isaäc Bom, Adrianus M. Ledeboer, Jan Maat, Marjolein Y. Toonen, | ||
| + | Chris Visser, C. Theo Verrips. Cell Volume 37, Issue 2, June 1984, Pages 629–633 | ||
| + | * [2] C.L Miranda, J.F Stevens, V Ivanov, M McCall, B Frei, M.L Deinzer, | ||
| + | D.R Buhler Antioxidant and prooxidant actions of prenylated and | ||
| + | nonprenylated chalcones and flavanones in vitro J. Agric. Food Chem., | ||
| + | 48 (2000), pp. 3876–3884 | ||
Revision as of 12:09, 15 August 2012
Contents |
Overview
Introduction
Ingredients
Xanthohumol
Xanthohumol is known as a putative cancer chemopreventive agent, due to its antioxidant activities (Miranda et al., 2000).(2) Our goal is a heterologous gene expression of all enzymes required for xanthohumol biosynthesis in S. cerevisiae. The pathway for the production of this plant secondary metabolite is composed of five steps, starting with the conversion of phenylalanine and followed by four further enzymatic reactions.
Limonene
Limonene is a cyclic terpene and a major constituent of several citrus oils. D-Limonene has been used as a component of flavorings and fragrances. It is formed from geranyl pyrophosphate by limonene synthase. We will produce the flavoring substance limonene by expressing limonene synthase in S. cerevisiae which naturally synthesizes the educt geranyl pyrophosphate.
Thaumatin
Thaumatin is a natural α+β-protein which is synthesized by the katamfe plant (Thaumatococcus daniellii), it is said to be 2.000 to 100.000 times sweeter than sucrose on molar basis, but the sweetness builds slow and lasts long. It has been approved as a sweetener by the European Union (E957). Our aim is to have S. cerevisiae secrete functional Thaumatin by expressing Preprothaumatin – a principle which has been proven by Edens et al. in 1984.(1)
Caffeine
Caffeine is a purine-alkaloid and its biosynthesis is known from coffee plants and tea plants.(3) It can block specific receptors in the hypothalamus in a competitive manner, which leads to decreased neurotransmitter-release and therefore decreased neuron activity. The biosynthetic pathway of caffeine starts with xanthosine, which is a natural component of the purine-metabolism of all organism and involves a total of 3 enzymes.
References
- [1] Synthesis and processing of the plant protein thaumatin in yeast
Luppo Edens, Isaäc Bom, Adrianus M. Ledeboer, Jan Maat, Marjolein Y. Toonen, Chris Visser, C. Theo Verrips. Cell Volume 37, Issue 2, June 1984, Pages 629–633
- [2] C.L Miranda, J.F Stevens, V Ivanov, M McCall, B Frei, M.L Deinzer,
D.R Buhler Antioxidant and prooxidant actions of prenylated and nonprenylated chalcones and flavanones in vitro J. Agric. Food Chem., 48 (2000), pp. 3876–3884
