Development of cyanobacterial exopolysaccharides for healthcare applications

关键词：工业生物技术，合成生物学，蓝藻，微藻，聚合蓝藻是工业生物技术的“绿色大肠杆菌”。作为光合作用的原核生物，它们结合了藻类和高等植物的优点（光自养、可持续性、二氧化碳利用）和细菌系统的优点（生长快、易于培养和可转化）。世界各地的几个研究小组，包括格拉斯哥大学的研究小组，已经开始组装一个分子工具箱，使蓝藻的合成生物学和工业生物技术成为可能。蓝藻产生外多糖，这是一种使用各种糖作为构建块的大型聚合物。蓝藻中EPS的大小和复杂性都超过了其他细菌。在自然界中，EPS具有保护、解毒和储水的功能。由于其保护和润肤功能，它们也有许多商业应用，特别是在医疗保健部门。本博士项目的目标是：(1)筛选各种蓝藻菌株的EPS，以获得有益的特性；(2)了解EPS合成的分子过程；(3)开发合成生物学过程来调节其特性。学生将接受充分的培训，并受益于学术导师在分子和系统生物学（Amtmann），合成生物学（Colloms）和糖生物学（Glycomar）领域的优秀互补记录。

Studentship strategic priority area:Bioenergy and Industrial BiotechnologyKeywords:Industrial Biotechnology, Synthetic Biology, Cyanobacteria, Microalgae, PolymersCyanobacteria are the "green E. coli" of Industrial Biotechnology. As photosynthetic prokaryotes they combine the advantages of algae and higher plants (photo-autotrophy, sustainability, CO2 usage) with those of bacterial systems (fast growth, easy culturing and transformability). Several research groups worldwide, including the groups at Glasgow University, have begun to assemble a molecular toolbox enabling Synthetic Biology and Industrial Biotechnology in cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria produce exopolysaccharides, which are large polymers using a variety of sugars as building blocks. Both the size and the complexity of EPS from cyanobacteria exceed those found in other bacteria. In nature, EPS function in protection, detoxification and water storage. Due to their protective and emollient features they also have many commercial applications, particularly in the health care sector.The aims of this PhD project are (1) to screen EPS of various cyanobacterial strains for beneficial properties, (2) to understand the molecular processes underpinning EPS synthesis, and (3) to develop synthetic biology processes to modulate their properties. The student will receive ample training and benefit from excellent complementary track records of the academic supervisors in the areas of molecular and systems biology (Amtmann), synthetic biology (Colloms) and glycobiology (Glycomar).