Award details

Transferring bacterial osmotolerance and desiccation tolerance to mammalian cells

Reference	9912302
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Alan Tunnacliffe
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	University of Cambridge
Department	Institute of Biotechnology
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	87,252
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/07/2000
End date	01/01/2002
Duration	18 months

Abstract

Mammalian cells are highly sensitive to extreme environmental stresses such as osmotic shock and dehydration. In contrast, prokaryotes have evolved effective mechanisms for withstanding such stresses. For example, one bacterial strategy for tolerating hyperosmotic conditions and desiccation is to produce high intracellular concentrations of the protectant disaccharide, trehalose. This project aims to genetically engineer mammalian cell lines which produce trehalose in response to osmotic shock or dehydration, to confer tolerances to these stresses. Ultimately, it is intended to produce dried, but viable, cells with potential applications in biosensors, cell and tissue engineering, cell factories and cell banks.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Engineering & Biological Systems (EBS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	ROPA 1999 (ROPA1999) [1999]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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