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From 2010.igem.org

Overall project

Our project has several different tracks that we will be working on in the wet-lab simultaneously. These tracks include quorum sensing, pili hyperexpression, and surface display. We made the decision to work in several tracks in order to maximize the efficiency of our lab teams. Our goal is to be able to combine all of these parts in the end and form an organism that will be able to effectively flocculate microalgae.

Quorum Sensing

Our cells will use quorum sensing to determine when the flocculation will start.

Pili Hyperexpression

Type 1 pili are proteinaceous adhesins that are found on the surface of E. coli. The pili help E. coli. form biofilms. By overproducing the pili, we hope to increase flocculation. Another gene we are looking at controls pilus adhesin, which is an adhesive substance located on the pili. By hyperexpressing this gene, we can increase the amount of pilus adhesin, which will hopefully strengthen the E. coli binding to the algae.

Surface Display

We are planning to express positively charged lysine proteins on the surface of the E. coli cell.

Results