Module 3: Design

Description | Design | Construction | Characterisation | Modelling | Results | Conclusions

Description

We identified two requirements for this system, and have designed the module to meet each requirement.

Requirement 1: The bacteria should carry a system capable of degrading polythelene

Laccase, an oxidoreductive enzyme, is important in bioremediation. Laccase from Rhodococcus ruber c208 has been found to be involved in polyethylene biodegradation (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964830512000637). The Laccase mechanism involves the generation of free radicals which encourages degradation of polyethylene. As Rhodococcus strains are presently unavailable to us, our system includes cueO, a laccase/multi-copper oxidase from E. coli.

Requirement 2: The system must be compatible with the marine environment

Our chosen enzyme has been suggested to survive in harsh conditions; laccase is thermostable (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14586105) and can function within a broad pH range, (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852412002234) therefore we expect our system will function in the marine environment.