Engineered Vesicles for Perchlorate Degradation

This study demonstrates the use of engineered vesicles to reduce perchlorate. Specifically, cell-free extracts containing perchlorate reductase and chlorite dismutase enzymes were encapsulated in a triblock copolymer vesicle functionalized with the outer membrane porin OmpF. The porin allows for perchlorate transport into the vesicles, inside which the encapsulated enzymes transform perchlorate to chloride. Perchlorate reduction was quantified using a methyl viologen colorimetric technique. The vesicle solutions had perchlorate-reducing activities ranging from 35-45 units per liter. This work shows that vesicles can provide a mechanism to utilize environmentally-relevant biological enzymes. When incorporated into a vesicle, the enzymes could be used outside of environmental conditions where they would normally be expressed by natural bacteria.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Environ Engr in Civil Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Poust, Sean K.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Zilles, Julie L.

• Polymer vesicles
• Perchlorate treatment
• Synthetic biology
• Water treatment

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 Sean K. Poust

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/17064

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/17064