Team:TUDelft/Temperature overview

From 2008.igem.org

Revision as of 15:35, 29 October 2008 by Bavandenberg (Talk | contribs)

Overview

We want to create an RNA-based system that is able to have differential gene expression when temperature changes take place (comparable to the [http://parts.mit.edu/wiki/index.php/Berkeley2006-RiboregulatorsMain Berkeley iGEM 2006 - riboregulator lock/key part]).

There are several systems suggested in literature that are based on RNA secondary structure [1]. The idea in general is that if the temperature drops below a certain temperature, the RNA will form stable base-pairs on the Shine-Dalgarno sequence, disabling the ribosome to bind. The base-pairing of this RNA region will block the expression of the protein encoded behind it. In this way gene expression can be regulated on the RNA level by temperature.

The design of the temperature sensitive input system can be divided in two phases. In the first phase it is tested if it is possible to turn an existing RNA thermometer into a biobrick and get it to work in e. coli. Some known RNA thermometers are taken from literature and turned into a standard biobrick. The parts are added to the partsregistry and the ordered to be tested. The aim of the second phase is to design an artificial RNA thermometer that has a different temperature threshold, i.e. initiate the translation process at a different temperature. A literature study is done as a basis for the design, which is used to design parts that should theoretically be switched on at 27 and 32 degrees Celcius.

References

  1. ^ Narberhaus F. mRNA-mediated detection of environmental conditions. Archives of Microbiology, 178(6):404-410, 2002. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16680139 PMID:16680139]