Purdue/13 June 2008

Possible colors include napthalene, indigo, lycopene.
Research article by Murdock, Ensley, Serdar, and Thalen: Construction of Metabolic Operons Catalyzing the Biosynthesis of Indigo. [1]

Bacterial study started on the 10th failed (plate dried out).

New test started. GFP E. coli pulled from -80C and two LB tubes innoculated. Put in 37C shaker at 220 rpm over the weekend.

Edited by Craig Barcus

Research on Genes and Plasmids

Found two different parts on the registry Part:BBa_I742120, a lycopene producing gene for red color, and Part:BBa_I742144 for an blue producing colony.
Janie and I discussed the possibility of having a triple color entendre. When no UV irridation is occurring, the patch will be clear. When minor damage occurs that causes the activation of the phr light repair mechanism, the bacteria can produce the lycopene (or sam8).
When the UV damage becomes too substantial, and the SOS pathway becomes activated, the other color will be produced, giving a warning sign that might as well read "You are extra-crispy, get out of the sun now!!".
With the sam8 gene (blue colony), a dependence on lactose seems to occur. This would fit right into our plans, allowing the gene to work with a double safety net. It will only produce when both lactose and UV damage has occurred.
SOS promoter (Part J22106) has been used by Bangalore in the past

Possibilities of double engineering the bacteria remain to be discussed. Talking to Drs. Clase and/or Applegate about this needs to happen.

Edited by Craig Barcus and Janie Stine