COLLABORATIONS

Overview

Win-win cooperation is the purpose of TJUSLS_CHINA's cooperation with other teams. In the process of cooperation, we discuss problems together and make progress together.

BJEA_China

The BJEA_China team sent us an email. They said that after reading the 2020 TJUSLS-China team's wiki, they learned that we have done research related to PET plastic degradation and they are very interested. After successfully getting in touch, we found that each other's projects have a strong correlation, and we look forward to further cooperation.

First of all, we learned that BJEA_China lacks PET films to conduct experiments. We sent them PET films to help them complete their projects.

After they came to the School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, we conducted experiments together. The members of BJEA_China helped us solve the problem of protein purification inclusion bodies, and suggested that we add hydrophilic tags. At our exchange meeting on Model & Simulation, we introduced them MD Simulation methods and software, and provided practical guidance.

DUT_China

After seeing our 2020 wiki page, DUT_China also learned that the TJUSLS _China team is working to improve the thermostability of PETase to improve the degradation ability of PETase. So they contacted our student leaders and we shared our new mutant protein sequence with better features to DUT_China. They also provided our team with the engineered bacteria they constructed to express the MHETase protein.

Our team is responsible for improving the thermostability of PETase to improve the degradation ability of PETase, and their team is responsible for constructing improved IsPETase with MHETase through artificially designed scaffolds. Therefore, our projects are extremely related and share common goals. So, after meeting, we actively started further cooperation.

First of all, the experimental members of our two teams exchanged modeling with each other. We both chose to use MD to explore the structural information supporting the project, and shared the experience and methods of using MD. We also invited them to visit our laboratory and share content about Human Practices, sharing the information obtained from stakeholders with each other. In addition, we sent them our PET films and our plasmid of improved PETase to help them complete their experiments.

Toronto

After we finished the production and released the promotion video, our project also received extensive attention. Team Toronto learned about our work on PETase. After seeing our promotion video this year, they showed strong interest. Then, they contacted us by email to seek further cooperation.

After successfully getting in touch, we decided to use Zoom to conduct online meetings for exchanges and cooperation. First, the two parties introduce the project to each other. Team Toronto is unable to do experiments due to the epidemic, so it mainly does dry lab work. They communicated with us the work and results of modeling: by comparing the sequences of PETase, LCC, and other plastic decomposing enzymes, they found their similarities and discussed the influence of their shared residues on the enzyme activity. They tried to modify PETase by themselves, and the main mutations were Focus on the pocket. We respectively introduced the project background: the types and hazards of PET, the crystallinity and characteristics of PET materials, and the limitations of PETase; project ideas: five rational design ideas, considerations and results of permutations and combinations, the latest experimental data, etc.; HP work: Company visits, expert consultation, education science, etc.

Then, the two sides conducted in-depth exchanges on each other's projects. We shared the experience and methods of Docking and MD together, and we recommended alphafold to them. Due to time constraints, we decided to continue our partnership between the two teams after the iGEM competition this year. We propose to help them do 1-2 mutant experiments to help them verify the experimental results. We also proposed that we can combine the mutation sites of both teams, and combine the sites that increase enzyme activity and improve thermal stability to create a super-PETase. Both parties are excited about this proposal.

Even if the iGEM competition is over, we will continue to move forward on the path of optimizing PETase.

Plasticase

At the end of spring and early summer of this year, many iGEM teams was united to form a community dedicated to solving the problem of plastic pollution—Plasticase. From May to September, in the months after Plasticase was established, everyone shared cutting-edge information, exchanged project problems, made reasonable suggestions, and looked for partners. In September, we join a virtual round table meetup called "Reshaping the future" organized by CPU_China. At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Xiang Huiming from Shanghai Environment Group Co., Ltd. introduced us to the migration and hazards of microplastics in the environment. Afterward, iGEMers from the CPU_China, TJUSLS_China, BJEA_China and other teams introduced their respective projects. The experts put forward their own opinions and suggestions to our project. They suggested that we find common rules of the structure of the mutants with good results in our experiments for further improvement. Whether it is academic or HP, everyone has benefited a lot and is deeply inspired. After the meeting, everyone exchanged their gains in the community, and actively sought more in-depth cooperation.

Shanghai SJTU-BioX

After identifying the project of rational design mutation to improve the stability of PETase, we hope to arouse people's attention to plastic pollution and environmental protection through our project. At the same time, with the goal of rapid inspection and development for major environmental pollution accidents, the Shanghai SJTU-BioX team also hopes to improve everyone's awareness of environmental quality through its projects, monitor the environment from their own point of view, and ensure safety.

However, due to the impact of the epidemic, to reduce liquidity, it has become somewhat difficult to hold our education offline. Therefore, TJUSLS_China decided to use a more direct and effective live class for education.

At the same time, the Shanghai SJTU-BioX team also wanted to complete the education in the form of an online live broadcast. After seeing the content of our online courses, they expressed interest.

For further discussion, we held a preliminary meeting and introduced the overall framework of the project to each other. The TJUSLS_China team is working on the manual design of PETase and the optimization of the conditions of use. Everyone discussed the design approach and verification process in detail; the Shanghai SJTU-BioX team is conducting quick inspection and development of the platform design. Specific application scenarios have been envisaged and their thinking has been broadened.

During the communication, we found that the two teams have a high degree of overlap in HP work. We also found that not only can we cooperate in the delivery of education courses, but we can also work together to improve the content integrity and spread of the education work. As a result, we determined a series of goals and started follow-up cooperation.

First of all, the Shanghai SJTU-BioX team used the video platform of TJUSLS_China to co-produce and release a series of popular science lectures on basic biological knowledge, which received extensive attention and feedback.

Secondly, we also helped the Shanghai SJTU-BioX team to make a preliminary understanding of the local agricultural product market in Tianjin, and conduct on-site visits to the establishment and management of the surrounding quick inspection stations to help them understand the quick inspection methods and policies in different regions.

ShanghaiTech_China

At the end of May 2021, the ShanghaiTech_China team came to Tianjin University. We exchanged project plans, introduced the team organization, and conducted in-depth exchanges on team building, project ideas, experimental experience, and other aspects. After listening to ShanghaiTech_China's design ideas about Stress sensitive biodegradable pharmaceutical cell-laden adhesive hydrogel for fracture repair, we felt that their project was very valuable, and asked about their related experimental progress and HP work. We also introduced them to our project of rational design mutation to improve the stability of PETase, and they affirmed the importance of our project. We also discussed the current problems of the two teams together, exchanged opinions in the early stages of the project, and provided new ideas for the team's follow-up work.