Difference between revisions of "Team:WPI Worcester/Background"
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In terms of chemical structure, curcumin consists of a heptane backbone with phenyl groups at its terminal points. Moreover, two carbonyl groups, two methoxy groups, and two hydroxyl confer mild polarity to the molecule. The larger proportion of the aliphatic components make the substance mostly soluble in hydrophobic substances like oils and DMSO and amphyllic solvents like ethanol, and hardly soluble in water (“Curcumin”). Fig 1 depicts curcumin’s structure: | In terms of chemical structure, curcumin consists of a heptane backbone with phenyl groups at its terminal points. Moreover, two carbonyl groups, two methoxy groups, and two hydroxyl confer mild polarity to the molecule. The larger proportion of the aliphatic components make the substance mostly soluble in hydrophobic substances like oils and DMSO and amphyllic solvents like ethanol, and hardly soluble in water (“Curcumin”). Fig 1 depicts curcumin’s structure: | ||
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<figure> <p style="text-align:center"><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/7/75/T--WPI_Worcester--Curcuminpoto.jpg" style="width: 300px;/> | <figure> <p style="text-align:center"><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/7/75/T--WPI_Worcester--Curcuminpoto.jpg" style="width: 300px;/> | ||
<figcaption>Fig.1 - Trulli, Puglia, Italy.</figcaption></figure> | <figcaption>Fig.1 - Trulli, Puglia, Italy.</figcaption></figure> | ||
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Revision as of 14:47, 15 October 2018
Background Information
Our biofilm experiments entailed the usage of different biologics, each possessing their own mechanism of production in vivo and chemistry. Here we summarize information from the scientific literature necessary for our experimental setups and provide a context in which our results may lie.
Curcumin
Antibiotic and Chemical Nature
Curcumin, the active ingredient of the spice turmeric, originates from the rhizome Curcuma longa. The compound possesses a yellow hue, and has been used in alternative medicine as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and has recently been explored for potentially possessing an antibacterial ability (Tyagi, 2015). Curcumin apparently achieves its antibacterial nature from lysing the cell membranes of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Though the composition of bacterial types differ, this compound perforates bacterial membranes to allow the contents of each cell type to eject into the extracellular space, thereby killing the cells in the process. Specifically, by virtue of possessing an amphipathic chemistry, curcumin can selectively insert into lipid bilayers and disrupt the native structure (Tyagi, 2015). As biofilms develop through quorum sensing mechanisms (the communication pathways between bacteria that selectively activates gene transcription via signaling molecules), the breakdown of cellular membranes does away the entryways of such molecules (Solano,2014). Therefore, if bacteria survive initial membrane perforation, they lose the ability to accurately secrete and absorb signaling molecules to further biofilm growth (“What is QS?”). In terms of chemical structure, curcumin consists of a heptane backbone with phenyl groups at its terminal points. Moreover, two carbonyl groups, two methoxy groups, and two hydroxyl confer mild polarity to the molecule. The larger proportion of the aliphatic components make the substance mostly soluble in hydrophobic substances like oils and DMSO and amphyllic solvents like ethanol, and hardly soluble in water (“Curcumin”). Fig 1 depicts curcumin’s structure:
