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From 2010.igem.org

E. lemming: remote controlled E. coli by ETH Zurich

Idea

The core idea of our project is to control chemotaxis of E. coli by means of light! We'll realize this by hijacking and perturbing the tumbling / directed flagellar movement apparatus. By coupling directed flagellar movement regulating 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. 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! This synthetic network enables control of single E. coli cells: We'll make them move like mindless "Lemmings" in the direction they are forced to go!

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