Tokyo/Works/Future works

From 2007.igem.org

Works top　　0.Hybrid promoter　　1.Formulation　　2.Assay1　　3.Simulation　　4.Assay2　　5.Future works

Balancing gene expression

According to the simulation results, we have found that the relative strength of the promoters of both sides, or relative expression levels of the downstream genes should be changed in order to reach our model. It might be possible to get closer to our goal by extremely focusing on such Wet experiments undergoing a number of trial-and-errors. However, now that we have almost obtained the strong methods of Dry approaches that compensate Wet ones, we can employ even more sophisticated methods as we have done in this project. We have estimated based on the simulation what should be done next. One option is to change the ribosomal binding sites (RBS) to modulate largely expression level of the downstream genes. There are different RBS available as BioBrick parts, we could choose proper strength of RBS. Balancing the expression levels of both sides must be a great leap to our goal.

Single cell analysis with a cell sorter

Throughout the Wet experiments so far, we have observed our genetically engineered cells, not at an individual levels but at a collective level. With a single cell analysis, our simulation results would be more clearly confirmed.
We could do this at the next step by using a cell sorter, which separates a mixture of cells into individuals. Then we could observe which states, A, B, or unstable, individual cells are taking at the moment of the measurement and how many of them are in each state.

Adapters as a new BioBrick category

During the construction of genetic circuits, we often found the necessity of the gene insertion between already ligated genes as in the present work.

However, it is still difficult to exchange iGEM parts, which should be designed convenient for the construction, because iGEM parts have to be ligated laterally.

It is necessary for more convenient BioBrick construction
(1) to make room for parts insertion between genes after they are connected
(2) to connect genes processed by different restriction enzymes.

Here we suggest “adapters” to solve this inconvenience. In the present project, we have designed “adapters,” BioBrick parts that connect differently digested DNA, meeting the requirement (2).

Together with TokyoStandard, the BioBrick parts our last year’s team Tokyo Alligance developed to meet the requirement (1), we suggest a new category of “adapter” as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 The concept of adapters
Adapters will provide more convenient Biobrick-parts-construction methods.

夢

In this iGEM project, we have developed our model of E. coli. The Wet and Dry approaches have demonstrated apparently interesting at the same time academically attracting results. Though these successive Wet and Dry approach and by employing other methods such as a single cell analysis, as mentioned above, we could achieve our model that behaves as we desigend. And throgh this process we could obtain synthetic biologically significant things.
Our genetically engineered machines could...