Team:BNDS China

In Chinese classical art, lacquer and carmine play important roles in the production of lacquerware and therefore the inheritance of lacquerware culture. However, current extraction methods have limitations, including the scarce sources of both substances and the complicated process. Attaining raw lacquer requires manual extraction from Toxicodendron vernicifluum (previously called Rhus verniciflua), and carmine needs to be obtained from cochineal with rather low production efficiency. Here we demonstrate synthetic biology approaches: using Escherichia coli (DH5α) to produce laccase as well as toluene dioxygenase (TDO) and toluene cis-dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (TDD), the latter two of which can convert methylbenzene to urushiol, the other functional component of raw lacquer aside from laccase; utilizing Saccharomyces cerevisiae (BY4741) to produce carminic acid, the major red component of carmine, from malonyl-CoA. After purification, the hard-to-obtain main ingredients laccase, urushiol, and carminic acid are mixed with several commercially available, cost-effective common ingredients, resulting in an artificial red-colored lacquer that can be easily applied in industrial and domestic contexts. The synthetic biology methods largely avoid the potential danger due to unknown, unstable natural components and expand the potential of further developing lacquerware culture.

Team

There are nineteen angels highly contributed in our program. We consist of thirteen fabulous team members, doing fantastic job during this summer, four high schools, four advisers, one PI. Want to see more about them? Click this dedicated instrument Ruan to view details!

Project

Our projects focus closely on relics conservation materials that have never present in iGEM before. If you find the production of carminic acid in S. cerevisiae or the corporation of 5 enzymes to produce lacquer particularly attractive, please feel free to explore more in this Precious Bottle Gourd!

Parts

Our projects used various parts to facilitate us to collect data for modeling. Now, we are sharing all the part we used to the iGEM community. Come to see the parts behind these two China plates!

Safety

The most essential element of doing experiment is biosafety, and we have followed strict rules during the experiment period. You can see our disciplines in this traditional Lacquer Censer.

HP

To find the influence and acceptance of the idea behind projects, we had visited many experts in conservation and art fields, and they not only provided valuable advices but also new ideas for our integrated combination project—carminic acid production. Meanwhile, we collaborated with several schools to maximize our value. Click this cute Red Sandalwood Comb to learn about the details!

Lab

We have stayed in the lab since June. To see how we work through the design, construction, and data collecting process, just click this Lacquer Covered Mandarin Duck!

Model

By using mathematical tools, we constructed models for both projects. These models provide us clear guidelines for the following actions of our program. Check this Red Lacquer Bowl to see our models inside.

Judging

The aim of this page is to show clearly why our program deserves medals and awards. To help your evaluation and judgement, please allow us to show the reasons behind this Red Sandalwood Elephant.