From 2007.igem.org

AustinDay 21:14, 2 August 2007 (EDT)

• Chris said that if we can find a transporter that will pump in the toxin, that it might still work. I've started to spend a bit of time looking for some sort of organophosphate transporter in a bacterium. But I'll concentrate on the alcohol side trip more for now, I think it gets across the point that we can detox stuff using this e. coli chassis, and it avoids using a transporter.

AustinDay 02:21, 31 July 2007 (EDT)

• All nerve agents belong to the organophosphorus (OP) compound group.
• They inhibit acetocholinesterase, resulting in the buildup of acetocholine, which prevents muscles from relaxing.
• This other dude (I have all the refs on my computer, the wiki isn't very good for this) Has identified various phosphotriesterases that will detoxify a variety of organophosphates (pesticides, as well as the chemical weapons sarin and soman). He describes various mutants and their effects on the stereoselectivity.
• I've heard of two things used to detox:
  • Phosphotriesterase
  • organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH)

• PROBLEM: The membrane presents a significant permeability barrier for the organophosphates. Alternatives have been used by chemical engineers by immobilizing the enzymes on the cell surface and attaching the cells to a cellulose membrane to use in a bioreactor. Can we ... get around that? I guess we can't do much about this unless we can.