Began project brainstorming and developing a project
Search through the literature and iGEM registry
April
Decided on a project to address plastic waste
Recruited plastics degradation expert Dr. Levin and social sciences advisor Dr. Lori Wilkinson
Participated in the 3K Spark Pitch Competition to promote synthetic biology in the Science Innovation Hub at the University of Manitoba
May
Educational initiatives for the general public and school-aged children about biological concepts and synthetic biology at our institution's Science Rendez-vous event
Start of funding: preparation of sponsorship package and communications with internal sponsors
Chose our plastic-degrading enzymes TLL and others (lignin peroxidase, PETase, PLA depolymerase) with a bioreactor implementation in mind
Summer
June
Week 1-2
Met with Dr. Ackerman, from the Sustainability in Action Facility, to learn about composting and PLA degradation
All wet lab team members participated in site-specific laboratory and biosafety training
Met with Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba to learn about the current state of recycling in our community
The start of PLAnet Zero: changed the project scope to focus on the degradation of PLA plastics
Week 3-4
Continued to search the literature to include more PLA-degrading enzymes
Designed and ordered the DNA constructs for Est119 and RPA1511 proteins
We acquired a construct containing TTL from the Budisa Lab group
Began in silico dry lab work
Project description
July
Week 1-2
DNA cloning of Est119, RPA1511, MGS0156, and GEN0105
Ordered primers for Est119 and RPR1511 for transfer into expression vector
Week 3-4
Expression of Est119, RPA1511, MGS0156, and GEN0105
Began Michaelis Menten esterase activity assays for TTL
Met with sustainability technician Stephanie Chow at the Forks Markets where we learned about the pros and cons of PLA plastic use, the challenges with composting in the Bio Vator system, and compost sterilization
August
Week 1
Began wiki construction
Began Michalis-Menten esterase activity assays for MGS0156
Met with CUHK iGEM to discuss our plastic degradation projects
Met with the University of Manitoba Sustainability office to determine the gaps in knowledge regarding the composting vs. recycling streams at our institution and made plans to collaborate on educational initiatives
Week 2
Ordered primers for the removal of the Lpp-OmpA anchor domain from Est119 and RPA1511
Met with the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment to learn more about the current state of composting in Manitoba and compost quality control regulations
Went on a ride-along with Compost Winnipeg to learn more about the barriers to composting within Manitoba and the journey of waste to landfills
Week 3
Began whole-cell activity assays of Lpp-OmpA-Est119, Lpp-OmpA-RPA1511, Est119 and RPA1511
Began planning SynBio Day for the educational outreach to high-school students in our community
Week 4
Site visit of EnviroClean Landfill Solution Ltd. to learn more about the novel Aerobic Rapid Bio-Digestion Machines and potential collaboration involving future field-testing
Norleucine incorporation into TTL and MGS0156. Began Michaelis-Menten esterase activity assays for TTL (Nle) and MGS0156 (Nle)
Filmed the promotional video
Fall
September
Began PLA coupon assays
We incubated PLA plastic with our various enzyme treatments and analyzed changes in the structure via attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy
Began our crowdfunding campaign
Finished editing and submitted the promotional video
Completed and submitted the final version of our safety form
October
Received institutional ethics board approval to start administering plastic pollution survey