Difference between revisions of "Team:TAS Taipei"

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Revision as of 05:06, 13 September 2018

TAS_Taipei

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Abstract

Turning red after consuming alcohol may seem like a mere social inconvenience. Yet, this flushing response is caused by an accumulation of acetaldehyde, a carcinogenic intermediate of alcohol metabolism. Acetaldehyde is broken down into harmless acetate by aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2). ALDH2 deficiency, the result of a point mutation in the ALDH2 gene, produces a much less efficient ALDH2 enzyme, leading to an accumulation of acetaldehyde and the subsequent flushing response. While about 8% of the global population is ALDH2 deficient, in our home, Taiwan, approximately 47% of the population carries this genetic mutation--the highest percentage in the world! Studies show that ALDH2 deficiency greatly increases the risk of developing esophageal and head and neck cancer. Thus, our project aims to produce recombinant ALDH2 to decrease levels of acetaldehyde in the upper digestive tract region. We envision delivery of ALDH2 as a purified protein or in consumer-friendly probiotics.

Turning red ๐Ÿ… after consuming alcohol ๐Ÿน๐Ÿบ may seem like a mere social inconvenience๐Ÿคท. Yet, this flushing response ๐Ÿ˜ก is caused by an accumulation of acetaldehyde, a carcinogenic ๐Ÿ’€ intermediate of alcohol ๐Ÿฅ‚๐Ÿฅƒ metabolism. Acetaldehyde is broken down ๐Ÿ“‰ into harmless acetate by aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2). ALDH2 deficiency, the result of a point mutation in the ALDH2 gene, produces a much less efficient ๐ŸขALDH2 enzyme, leading to an accumulation of acetaldehyde and the subsequent flushing response ๐Ÿ˜ก. While about 8% of the global ๐ŸŒ population is ALDH2 deficient, in our home, Taiwan, approximately 47% of the population carries this genetic mutation--the highest percentage in the world ๐Ÿคฆโ€! Studies show that ALDH2 deficiency greatly increases the risk of developing esophageal and head and neck cancer ๐Ÿš‘. Thus, our project ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ”ฌ aims to produce recombinant ALDH2 to decrease levels of acetaldehyde in the upper digestive tract region. We envision ๐Ÿ‘€delivery ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฆ of ALDH2 as a purified protein or in consumer-friendly probiotics