Team:Purdue/Project

From 2008.igem.org

Revision as of 17:27, 25 September 2008

Overall project

This year at Purdue, our goal is to make a bacterial UV sensor for commercial application. By exploiting existing E. coli DNA repair pathways (photoreactivation and SOS), we want to eventually create a "patch" that will change colors as UV exposure increases. Thus, one would be able to test when new sunscreen needs to be applied based on actual DNA damage. Other applications could include Bacterial "tattoos" that only show up in the sun, color-changing T-shirts, etc.

Biologically, we are planning to attach the phr (photoreactivation) promoter to a gene creating some kind of red color, such as RFP or prodigiosin or LacYZ on MacConkey agar. As a result, as pyrimidine dimers are formed, the natural photoreactivation pathway will be activated by the bacteria and red color will develop alongside natural DNA repair. Once more severe DNA damage occurs, the E. coli will naturally switch over to the well-documented SOS (recA) pathway. By combining the promoter for this pathway (a part used by Bangalore in 2006) with the lacZ gene, severe UV damage will make beta-galactosidase which will cleave X-gal which will create a blue pigment. Thus, our device will slowly turn red and eventually blue as the DNA damage resulting from UV radiation increases.

Project Details

Unfortunately, there is insufficient documentation regarding the photoreactivation pathway. Because this pathway is not present in humans, very little research has been done on the subject. As a result, there is no definitive source for the specific genetic code that makes up the promoter of the system. Because of this and other funding problems, the Purdue team has decided to focus on just the SOS side of the project.

Part 1: Lit Research

Part 2: Modeling

As the Purdue team consists of mostly engineers, it is our goal to be able to mathematically model our system. A working model will help us understand the mechanisms involved in our genetic modifications, and will allow us to predict the consequences of any modifications.

For more details, see the Modeling page.

Part 3: In the Lab

After combing the Registry of Standard Biological Parts, we found 2 parts that we could use to implement our idea. First, part J22106 (contributed by Bangalore in 2006) is the promoter for recA, a central gene in the bacterial SOS pathway. Next, we found a complete lacZ (I732017) which could be attached to the promoter. Both parts are relatively OK according to the quality control tests. By cloning the sequence of promoter-reporter, we can make the traditional if-then construct often used to test promoter strength. In this case, however, we will clone it into lac- cells (so we don't get false positives). By plating on X-gal plates, those cells that have successfully transformed will turn blue.

Standard Assembly methods were used. Stabs of transformed cells containing each part were obtained from iGEM. Next, a miniprep was done for each part, and each part was digested. [TO BE FINISHED]

Part 4: Results

No results yet! See the Modeling page for expected results...

Failed ideas???/Future Plans

• Also include ppt here?

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