Difference between revisions of "Part:BBa K1598008"

Revision as of 17:38, 20 September 2015

J23101 promoter + RBS + Human FDXR + RBS + Human FDX1 + RBS + Human CYP11A1 + rrnb double terminator

Also called Cytochrome P450scc, Cholesterol Side Chain Cleavage Enzyme (P450scc) is a mitochondrial enzyme that converts cholesterol into pregnenolone, which is a neurosteroid as well as the precursor to a variety of steroid hormones and neurotransmitters. The gene that encodes it is CYP11A1. Furthermore, the catalysis involves 3 monooxygenase reactions, which requires two electron transport proteins: ferrodoxin (FDX1) and ferredoxin reductase (FDXR). Our biobrick consists of the iGEM prefix followed by the J23101 constitutive promoter, RBS, FDXR gene, RBS, FDX1 GENE, RBS, CYP11A1 gene, rrnb double terminator, and the iGEM suffix. This will be ligated onto a PSB1C3 backbone.

Emerging preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that pregnenolone may be a promising novel therapeutic candidate in schizophrenia. It has also been shown to reduce the side effects of benzodiazepines. Furthermore, cholesterol side chain cleavage is the 1st step in the biosynthesis of steroids such as testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, estrogen, etc. Therefore, this biobrick has a plethora of applications, and is in a way several biobricks in 1.

Usage and Biology

• 1. Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Side-Effects Reduction

• 2. Schizpohrenia Treatment

• 3. Memory, Cognition, and Neurotransmission

• 4 Steroid Biosynthesis

Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Side-Effects Reduction

Relief of Side-effects from Depression/Anxiety drugs:

Pregnenolone and its derivates prevent the development of tolerance, and augment recovery from benzodiazepine withdrawal anxiety and hyperactivity in mice. Benzodiazepines, such as Valium, are one of the most popular antidepressant/anti-anxiety drugs in the world! Basically, this removes the need to constantly increase the dosage, and gets rid of many side effects and withdrawal symptoms, associated with treatments that act on the GABA receptor.[1]

Schizpohrenia Treatment

Memory, Cognition, and Neurotransmission

Steroid Biosynthesis

Sequence and Features