E. lemming is the 2010 iGEM project of ETH Zurich. We intend to control movement of a single E. coli bacterium by hijacking chemotaxis and monitoring by image processing algorithms, which are linked to a controller device.
E. lemming is the 2010 iGEM project of ETH Zurich. We intend to control movement of a single E. coli bacterium by hijacking chemotaxis and monitoring by image processing algorithms, which are linked to a controller device. See an animation of the project overview here!
By coupling chemotactic receptor proteins to a novel synthetic light-sensitive spatial localization system, their activity can be controlled reversibly. A light-sensitive dimerizing complex fused to this regulating proteins at a spatially fixed location is induced by light pulses and therefore localization of the two molecules can be manipulated. An introduction to the molecular mechanism can be found here.
Tumbling / directed flagellar movement rates are monitored by image processing algorithms, which are linked to the light-pulse generator. This means that E. coli tumbling is induced or suppressed simply by pressing a light switch! Click here to found out more!
Informations regarding the biological implementation and an overview about the conducted wet laboratory experiments can< be found in this section.
Molecular modeling supports analysis of biological systems since the advent of synthetic biology. For E. lemming, molecular modelling not only supported wet laboratory experiments by providing time and effort alleviating parameter selection, but also provided a test bench for the information processing part.
Implementation of a comprehensive information processing workflow for controlling E. lemming was achieved by combination of microscopy, image processing, cell detection and a controller. Find out more, how this not only created E. lemming but also created a new application for synthetic biology: Gaming!
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