IGEM:Cambridge/2008/Concept

Project Abstract
We have developed a system which creates spatially organized electrical features in a genetically identical bacterial population, allowing for simulation of action potentials and other complex phenomena. This system generates electrical potentials in bacterial cells using artificially formed potassium gradients, released upon chemical stimulation. We have designed the genetic circuitry to establish a two-component Reaction-Diffusion system involving the well-characterized Lux and Agr signaling pathways, and we have modeled the intercellular interactions between these pathways to produce complex self-organizing designs known as Turing patterns. To support this system we have developed the gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis as a BioBrick chassis, including direct chromosomal single-copy insertion, peptide signaling, and BioBrick-compatible vectors for expression in both gram-negative and -positive bacteria. We have also tested a new assembly method for rapidly generating constructs by joining multiple PCR fragments. This work can serve as a foundation for future advances involving cellular patterning, signaling, and self-organization.