Team:University of Washington

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Our project seeks to control transfer of genetic material across phylogenetic kingdoms. Although the design is intended to promote modular substituion for use across different organisms and under various conditions, we will specifically attempt to transfer conjugative plasmids from the prokaryote Escherichia coli (kingdom Bacteria) to the yeast Saccharomyces cervisiae (kingdom Fungi). Essentially, the conjugative bacteria will only express conjugative machinery and transfer genetic material in the presence of certain species, the absence of others, and when yeast is present.

The conjugative plasmids transferred from E. coli to S. cervisiae will confer the ability for yeast to perform some adaptive function; in our case, it will be the ability to digest lactose. We will induce the production of conjugation machinery in E. coli under conditions where lactose is prevalent, glucose is minimal, and yeast proximity is sensed via a yeast-produced signaling molecule. The use of mutualistic interactions under conditions of selective pressure will assist in maintaining long-term functionality of genetic circuitry. Future directions of this project might include clinical gene delivery, more reliable transformation of other eukartyoes, and other interacting multiple-organism systems.