This year, Phosphix 2024 has contributed not only to iGEM through the Parts Registry by providing scientific data on old previous as well as newly created parts, but also through other aspects of education. For the use of future iGEM teams, we created both a guide on the use of AI tools for protein redesign, as well as a guide on how teams can make their wikis more accessible for viewers.
Through the process of our project we characterised a range of phosphatases as detailed further within the parts library. Most notably we characterised PafA as a novel phosphatase that does not undergo product inhibition. During this characterisation process, we compared it to the phosphatase PhoA, characterised by iGEM13_ETH_Zurich in 2013 (BBa_K1216001), which does undergo product inhibition. This showed how PafA was a better candidate for industrial use and would produce higher yields, once we had redesigned it to remain stable at a greater variety of temperatures. We also added our redesigns to the registry with details of their characterisation as well.
Here are the links:
As our project relied heavily on the use of machine-based learning tools, we wanted to create a step-by-step guide on how other teams could use our method to do the same. The guide begins with obtaining the wild-type sequence of a protein and ends with one or more sequences of redesigned proteins.
Here's the link:
From our research of past iGEM teams’ wikis, we’ve noticed that most of them are not particularly accessible, i.e. they do not meet WCAG guidelines. In order to make an impact on future teams’ wikis, we decided to write a guide on how teams can ensure their wikis are accessible for all to access, regardless of disability.
Here's the link: