Giu's Stellar Project

Rediscovering bioproduction

genSwitch is a genetic circuit able to make E.coli recognize blue led light and switch between two different states of genetic activation

What is bioproduction?

Bioproduction is a process used in industries that generates useful products through microorganisms. The most common inductor used in bioproduction are chemical compounds (like IPTG and arabinose) that are, not only expensive, but also lacks fine control of induction. Our goal is to built a genetic circuit that can switch between two different states of activation with just a single input of blue led light. The circuit was built in E.coli and works based on inhibition handles and recombinases that can invert the promoter region according to the presence and absence of the same type of blue light. In addition, fluorescent proteins such as GFP, RFP and YFP function as outps for our circuit. We also compared the efficiency between chemical induced promotors and light-induced ones by evaluating strength and lack. Finally, with our circuit, bioproduction can become more practical, controlled and economical.

Why use light?

Light is a fine, precise inductor, as the specificity of the signal is in the amissor, the wavelength and intensity, and in the receptor, in our case, a protein, that recognize a specific wavelength ortogonali. Besides that, light can be activated instantaneously, simply by turning on it’s source. To stop the induction, it’s not necessary to change the culture media or wash the culture, a process that can make some bioproduction impossible. Using light opens new possibilities for this industry.

Why make a switch?

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Demonstrate

Gold Medal Criterion #4

Teams that can show their system working under real world conditions are usually good at impressing the judges in iGEM. To achieve gold medal criterion #4, convince the judges that your engineered system works.

Your engineered system has to work under realistic conditions. Your system must comply with all rules and policies approved by the iGEM Safety Committee. Your system can derive from or make functional a previous iGEM project by your team or by another team. For multi-component projects, the judges may consider the function of individual components.

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