Difference between revisions of "Part:BBa K660201"

Latest revision as of 00:43, 30 September 2011

Latherin (Surfactant Protein) + 6xHIS Tag

Origin

Horse sweat (Equus caballus)

Function

Latherin is a surfactant protein with detergent like properties.

Its normal biological function is temperature regulation and is believed to function by enhancing evaporation from the pelt. It does so by binding to hydrophobic surfaces and allowing them to become wettable.

Applications

Latherin is able to temporarily bind to hydrophobic surfaces and has therefore been investigated as a possible method of breaking up biofilms. It is also suspected that the protein may have antimicrobial functions.
The 2011 University of Glasgow iGEM team used this part in their system, DISColi, to aid in the dispersal of biofilms.

This biobrick was tested under the control of a pBAD promoter, the assay used to determine whether latherin expressed surfactant properties involved sonication to lyse the cells, all samples were then shaken vigorously for 30 seconds. The results below show that the sample expressing latherin not only became more frothy than the other samples for a prolonger period of time, it also increased the transparency of the media.

https://parts.igem.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K660201

Part:BBa_K660200

This is a version of the latherin biobrick (K660200) with an attached 6xHIS tag. Use this biobrick for affinity purification to isolate the protein.

Additional Information

Note: Latherin is suspected to be the cause of allergic reaction in individuals with an allergy to horses.

References

Beegley J, et al., 1986. Isolation and characterization of latherin, a surface-active protein from horse sweat
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&cmd=search&term=3753435>.

Kennedy M., 2011., Latherin and other biocompatible surfactant proteins
http://www.biochemsoctrans.org/bst/039/bst0391017.htm

Information on "Affinity Purification"
http://www.brunschwig-ch.com/pdf/downloads/ABT_RapidRun_Procedure.pdf?PHPSESSID=cb79f5862da62a654bb1a6aefe87c62b

Sequence and Features