This year, the SR-Shenzhen team was inspired by the challenges of aging faced by our parents and the limitations of existing anti-aging products. We aimed to create a safe, low-cost, and scalable biological platform by designing engineered E. coli Nissle 1917. As part of this project, we contributed a total of 7 basic parts and 7 composite parts to the iGEM Registry. Our work focused on three functional modules: (1) an NMN biosynthesis system, integrating NiaP, NadV, BaPRS, and PnuC to optimize substrate transport, precursor supply, and secretion efficiency; (2) a GshF-based one-step glutathione (GSH) synthesis system to alleviate oxidative stress and provide potential skincare applications; and (3) a GLP-1 secretion system, using a PelB-GLP-1 construct to address obesity and metabolic imbalance as key aging accelerators. Through iterative design, codon optimization, and pathway balancing, these modules synergistically form a comprehensive anti-aging solution. Our project not only demonstrates the creativity and rigor of high school synthetic biology but also carries the heartfelt aspiration to protect family health and contribute to a healthier aging society
Basic Parts
NiaP [BBa_25KTH04H]: A nicotinamide transporter that actively imports NAM into the cell, increasing substrate availability and significantly improving NMN biosynthesis efficiency.
NadV [BBa_25MMBMT2]: A nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase from Vibrio phage KVP40, catalyzing the conversion of nicotinamide (NAM) and PRPP into NMN with high specificity and activity.
PnuC [BBa_25P5WGA3]: An NMN transporter from Bacillus mycoides, enabling efficient secretion of intracellular NMN to the extracellular environment, reducing metabolic loss and supporting large-scale production.
BaPRS [BBa_25KEWKR6]: A phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, enhancing intracellular PRPP supply and overcoming the rate-limiting bottleneck in NMN biosynthesis.
NadV-BaPRS [BBa_25SCJT4H]: A fusion enzyme combining NadV and BaPRS to directly couple PRPP generation with NMN synthesis, improving catalytic efficiency and metabolic flux balance.
GshF [BBa_25PR4M2U]: A bifunctional enzyme from Streptococcus thermophilus with both γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione synthetase activities, allowing one-step glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis and bypassing traditional two-enzyme feedback inhibition.
PelB-GLP-1 [BBa_K5083001]: A fusion of the PelB signal peptide with GLP-1 that enables extracellular secretion in E. coli. This part provides the basis for our engineered probiotics to deliver active GLP-1 for metabolic regulation.
Composite Parts
NiaP+NadV [BBa_25MJNO0F]: Synergistically combines NAM transport and conversion, creating the first-generation NMN-producing strain with improved intracellular substrate concentration and efficient NMN synthesis.
NiaP+BaPRS [BBa_25N55WH8]: Couples enhanced NAM uptake with boosted PRPP supply, providing a balanced precursor-input system for higher NMN yields.
NadV+PnuC [BBa_25C3V2WK]: Links NMN synthesis and secretion, reducing intracellular NMN consumption and enabling extracellular accumulation for easier recovery.
NadV-BaPRS+PnuC [BBa_25QTLCFB]: Integrates precursor boosting, catalytic conversion, and extracellular secretion, achieving robust and scalable NMN production.
NiaP+NadV+PnuC [BBa_2532X3S1]: Enhances substrate uptake, catalysis, and secretion simultaneously, forming an optimized second-generation NMN module.
NiaP+NadV-BaPRS [BBa_25TCFNVS]: Combines NAM transport with the fusion enzyme to strengthen precursor supply and direct NMN synthesis, overcoming metabolic bottlenecks.
NiaP+NadV-BaPRS+PnuC [BBa_25OZ57IA]: A fully integrated system uniting transport, precursor boosting, catalytic fusion, and secretion—representing the third-generation NMN production strain with the highest yield and industrial potential.
The work of the SR-Shenzhen team demonstrates how synthetic biology can be applied to address aging-related challenges through a modular and iterative engineering approach. By contributing 7 composite parts and 7 basic parts, our project establishes a systematic framework for producing NMN, GSH, and GLP-1 in E. coli Nissle 1917. Future teams can build upon our strategies for optimizing transporter–enzyme synergy, balancing precursor supply, and improving extracellular secretion to enhance product yields.
Moreover, our integration of anti-aging pathways into a unified microbial chassis provides a reference model for designing multi-functional probiotics, where one engineered strain can deliver multiple therapeutic benefits. This expands the scope for future iGEM teams to explore cross-disease interventions, from metabolic disorders to oxidative stress-related conditions. By bridging scientific innovation with social responsibility, our project not only advances technical solutions but also inspires future teams to design synthetic biology projects that directly respond to family and societal needs.
