Our team has documented and added sequences and composite parts (with promoter, RBS, terminator) for all enzymes in the XR-XDH metabolic pathway for expression in E. coli, including xylose reductase, xylitol dehydrogenase and xylulose kinase. This allows future teams to more easily incorporate the yeast-derived XR-XDH pathway into E. coli through the combination of BBa_K4324000 and BBa_K4324001. Furthermore, our team has added corresponding parts for the expression of phosphoketolase in E. coli in BBa_K4324003.
The XR-XDH pathway presents another two-step biochemical route for xylose to be converted into xylulose in E. coli, alongside its native XI pathway which allows direct isomerisation from xylose to xylulose. Phosphoketolase allows another further metabolic pathway of xylulose-5-phosphate through glycolysis, apart from the existing pentose phosphate pathway.
These new pathways will enable higher uptake of xylose in E. coli and alleviated flux during its metabolism. A collection of all of these parts (with xylulose kinase) has been added in BBa_K4324300 for ease of use by future teams when needing E. coli to better grow on a xylose or xylitol medium.
As our project involved extracting and quantifying sugars from various biomass sources, we developed a systematic protocol to perform sugar extraction for four different types of biomass samples: fibrous biomass, mixed biomass, starchy biomass, and biomass with a high free sugar content.
Our team has found this guide useful for our sugar extractions, and we envision future iGEM teams to also utilise this document to easily be able to perform related sugar experiments especially for food- or biomass-related projects.
More information and the sugar extraction protocools can be found on the sugar extraction page here
We have conducted online research and compiled a handy Biowaste Encyclopedia that identifies characteristics of common types of lignocellulosic biowaste, including its current usage, environmental impact, sugar composition and overall economic marketability.
Our team has then utilised results from the Encyclopedia to determine the best biomass sources to perform sugar extraction in the hopes of using it as a medium to measure the growth performance of our engineered E. coli.
By sharing our Biowaste Encyclopedia, we envision it to serve as a guide for future iGEM teams and researchers looking for economic and sustainability opportunities within common bio-waste sources. Furthermore, teams can easily access information about common lignocellulosic biomass sources within a single document, simplifying research.
Teams can also refer to the below graph of sugar extraction yields to easily determine the content of reducing sugars contained within common biomass sources.
You can read further about the sugar extraction results and details of the Biowaste Encyclopedia on the Integrated Human Practices page
As the pioneering high school participants from Australia in iGEM, we have constructed a How-To Guide for Australian High School iGEM Teams. Within it, we have written useful information about the considerations and factors of starting the iGEM journey, creating a team and a working environment, as well as distinctly Australian challenges teams may face.
We envision this guide to promote a heightened engagement in iGEM for Australian high school teachers and students, as well as providing real-world advice to budding teams from all across the world.
You can read further about the impact of the How-To Guide in the Education + Communication page
We have added Usage and Biology information to existing part BBa_K1585213 which expresses phosphoketolase.
Our team also participated in the 2022 iGEM InterLab Study, performing experiments to validate the three-colour calibration protocol. We submitted our fluorescence measurements which will contribute to iGEM’s collective pursuit to increase the reproductibility of the calibration protocol.
Please refer to our InterLab page for more information
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