Gluten Screen Test.

From 2012.igem.org

Revision as of 19:44, 8 June 2012

I am currently researching how to create a screen test for gluten in a beer sample. More specifically Hordein, the gluten protein found in barley which is a key ingredient in beer.

According to various group research we suspect there is a repeating sequence in both wheat and barley gluten proteins that will allow Hordein, the Gluten protein of barley, to be broken down in a similar manner to gliadins, the Gluten protein of wheat. This could potentially be conducted using an enzyme to break down the gluten protein, in a method similar to that used by the University of Washington in 2011's iGEM competition.

here is a link on beer and hordein quantification http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/pr2008434 https://2011.igem.org/Team:Washington/Protocols/Purified_Enzyme_Assay

I am currently searching for a purified polypeptide sequence of gluten that we can use as a control for experimental basis. The University of Washington used a PQPQLP sequence with a fluorophore and quencher attached using a custom sequencing option from a company called Anaspec (Anaspec provided a 20% discount for educational research). According to Anaspec's website the average delivery time for a custome peptide strand is between 2 and 3 weeks. This could be problematic and another solution may need to be found.

I found today that CSU has a Lab dealing with DNA sequencing, I sent an email asking if they also did custom peptide sequencing. Their product turnaround is faster than many commercial biotechnology companies. Also, I found several other companies that have a quicker turnaround than Anaspec for custom sequencing.

Here is a patent for a gluten assay that goes incredibly in-depth into the foudation of Gluten, its components and sequencing, its relation to celiac patients, etc. Very informing. http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7534426/description.html