Team:Johns Hopkins

From 2010.igem.org

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<li><a href="https://2010.igem.org/Team:Johns_Hopkins/Modeling">Modeling</a></li>
<li><a href="https://2010.igem.org/Team:Johns_Hopkins/Modeling">Modeling</a></li>
<li><a href="https://2010.igem.org/Team:Johns_Hopkins/Parts">Parts</a></li>
<li><a href="https://2010.igem.org/Team:Johns_Hopkins/Parts">Parts</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://2010.igem.org/Team:Johns_Hopkins/Device">Device</a></li>
<li><a href="https://2010.igem.org/Team:Johns_Hopkins/Notebook">Notebook</a></li>
<li><a href="https://2010.igem.org/Team:Johns_Hopkins/Notebook">Notebook</a></li>
<li><a href="https://2010.igem.org/Team:Johns_Hopkins/Safety">Safety</a></li>
<li><a href="https://2010.igem.org/Team:Johns_Hopkins/Safety">Safety</a></li>
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[[Image:Johns Hopkins logo.png|left|frame|Johns Hopkins University]]
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[[Image:Johns Hopkins logo.png|left|frame|Johns Hopkins University Seal]]
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<big>'''Genetically engineered ''Saccharomyces cerevisiae'' that is responsive to voltage signals at a transcriptional level. </big>
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<big>'''Genetically engineered ''Saccharomyces cerevisiae'' that is responsive to voltage signals at a transcriptional level. '''</big>
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We have hijacked the calcium shock, calcineurin-CRZ1, pathway in yeast and encoded a reporter. In doing so we have characterized the voltage dependency of the CRZ1 binding site (CDRE) and so taken the first step in creating a interface between cellular systems and computers by allowing cells to respond to the language of computers, voltage signals.'''
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Using our specifically designed CRZ1 binding elements in tandem with fluorescent reporter genes, we characterized calcineurin-CRZ1 mediated calcium response pathway in yeast. In doing so we have taken the first step in creating an interface between cellular systems and computers by allowing cells to respond to voltage signals, the language of computers.
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<big>'''Possible applications:'''</big>
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*We see large scale applications in synthetic biology, for the integration of computer controlled voltage signals into gene expression control. We want to create a system where genes can be turned on and off with voltage signals that be delivered at precise and arbitrary intervals by computers, without having to deal with a hundred different and potentially costly chemical reagents. In effect, we want to make biology more easily engineerable.
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<big>Possible applications of our idea:</big>
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*We are looking into inducing the URA3 gene (required for uracil synthesis) in a URA3 null mutant to create yeast cells whose growth is dependent on a voltage signal. For example, this might take the form of a system whereby an SMS "text" message could be sent to a computer, which would stop electrostimulating cells, turning off uracil synthesis. This way, a text message could effectively "turn off" cells without the need to even come into the lab!
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*We see large scale applications in synthetic biology, for the integration of computer controlled voltage signals into gene expression control. We want to create a system where genes can be turned on and off with voltage signals that be delivered at precise intervals by computers, without having to deal with a hundred different potentially costly chemical reagents. In effect making biology more engineerable.
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*We are looking into creating a URA3 gene (required for uracil synthesis) downstream of our CDRE equipped promoter region, to create yeast cells whose growth is dependent on this gene being transcribed. Thus we plan to have a system where you could text a computer which was hooked up to your eletro stimulation device and you could take cells in and out of the growth cycle, just by simple preprogrammed voltage signals put out by the computer.
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*We envisage a voltage activated transcriptional response to be very usefull in cardiovascular and neuronal research, by it is possible to weed out cells that display only specific action potentials. We hypothesize this could be done by causing a selectable transcriptional response to the calcium influx of the action potential.
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<big>'''Team:'''</big> We are a team of 9 undergraduate students deeply interested in synthetic biology. We hail from a variety of disciplines including, chemistry, biology and engineering. We’re a fresh new team with varying levels of experience united by our passion for science.<br>
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*We imagine that a voltage activated transcriptional response might be very useful in cardiovascular research.  For example, it might be used to model arrhythmias in cardiac tissue, because using our system of voltage (or calcium influx) activated transcription it might be possible to weed out cells displaying action potentials, like live muscle cells that are contracting. We hypothesize this could be done by causing a selectable transcriptional response to the calcium influx of the action potential. 
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*We believe that the concept of voltage controlled transcription in yeast might have large industrial applications, specifically in the field of fermentation. By designing yeast that are taken in and out of the growth cycle by simple voltage signals we would be able to dynamically control, for example, yeast population density and hence fermentation rates in bioreactors. In theory, however, this voltage control could be tuned to modulate nearly any cellular behavior in any organism with a nucleus.
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<big>'''Our Accomplishments'''</big>
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<big>'''Our Accomplishments'''</big><br>
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*We have extended previous work on voltage sensitivity (Valencia 2009) in S. cerevisiae, bringing the response from the biochemical domain into the transcriptional.
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'''We have...'''
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*We constructed a library of 7 voltage-activated yeast upstream activation sequences with varying sensitivity.
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*Extended previous work on voltage sensitivity (Valencia 2009) in ''S. cerevisiae'', bringing the response from the biochemical domain into the transcriptional.
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*We have characterized two full voltage-activated promoters for yeast.
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*Constructed a library of 7 voltage-activated yeast upstream activation sequences with varying sensitivity.
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*We have developed a model to describe the transcriptional response to voltage of our system.
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*Characterized two full voltage-activated promoters for yeast.
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*We fabricated a simple preliminary electro stimulation setup.  
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*Developed a model to describe the transcriptional response to voltage of our system.
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*We developed and optimized a high throughput electro stimulation setup using coaxial gold electrodes.
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*Successfully leveraged post-translational modification machinery, namely de-phosphorylation of Crz1 by calcineurin, to initiate a transcriptional response.
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*We fabricated a highly accurate microfluidic electro stimulation setup using gold electrodes on a silicone wafer and are currently in the process of optimization.
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*Fabricated a highly accurate microfluidic electro-stimulation setup using gold electrodes on a silicone wafer and are currently in the process of refining the fabrication technique.
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<big>'''Team:'''</big> We are a team of eleven undergraduate students deeply interested in synthetic biology. We hail from a variety of disciplines including, chemistry, biology and engineering. We’re a fresh new team with varying levels of experience united by our passion for science.<br>
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[[Image:IGEM_Team_Photo.jpg|650px|center|thumb| JHU iGEM 2010]]
[[Image:IGEM_Team_Photo.jpg|650px|center|thumb| JHU iGEM 2010]]

Latest revision as of 23:27, 27 October 2010

JHU.

Johns Hopkins University Seal

Genetically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is responsive to voltage signals at a transcriptional level.

Using our specifically designed CRZ1 binding elements in tandem with fluorescent reporter genes, we characterized calcineurin-CRZ1 mediated calcium response pathway in yeast. In doing so we have taken the first step in creating an interface between cellular systems and computers by allowing cells to respond to voltage signals, the language of computers.

Possible applications:

  • We see large scale applications in synthetic biology, for the integration of computer controlled voltage signals into gene expression control. We want to create a system where genes can be turned on and off with voltage signals that be delivered at precise and arbitrary intervals by computers, without having to deal with a hundred different and potentially costly chemical reagents. In effect, we want to make biology more easily engineerable.
  • We are looking into inducing the URA3 gene (required for uracil synthesis) in a URA3 null mutant to create yeast cells whose growth is dependent on a voltage signal. For example, this might take the form of a system whereby an SMS "text" message could be sent to a computer, which would stop electrostimulating cells, turning off uracil synthesis. This way, a text message could effectively "turn off" cells without the need to even come into the lab!
  • We imagine that a voltage activated transcriptional response might be very useful in cardiovascular research. For example, it might be used to model arrhythmias in cardiac tissue, because using our system of voltage (or calcium influx) activated transcription it might be possible to weed out cells displaying action potentials, like live muscle cells that are contracting. We hypothesize this could be done by causing a selectable transcriptional response to the calcium influx of the action potential.
  • We believe that the concept of voltage controlled transcription in yeast might have large industrial applications, specifically in the field of fermentation. By designing yeast that are taken in and out of the growth cycle by simple voltage signals we would be able to dynamically control, for example, yeast population density and hence fermentation rates in bioreactors. In theory, however, this voltage control could be tuned to modulate nearly any cellular behavior in any organism with a nucleus.

Our Accomplishments
We have...

  • Extended previous work on voltage sensitivity (Valencia 2009) in S. cerevisiae, bringing the response from the biochemical domain into the transcriptional.
  • Constructed a library of 7 voltage-activated yeast upstream activation sequences with varying sensitivity.
  • Characterized two full voltage-activated promoters for yeast.
  • Developed a model to describe the transcriptional response to voltage of our system.
  • Successfully leveraged post-translational modification machinery, namely de-phosphorylation of Crz1 by calcineurin, to initiate a transcriptional response.
  • Fabricated a highly accurate microfluidic electro-stimulation setup using gold electrodes on a silicone wafer and are currently in the process of refining the fabrication technique.

Team: We are a team of eleven undergraduate students deeply interested in synthetic biology. We hail from a variety of disciplines including, chemistry, biology and engineering. We’re a fresh new team with varying levels of experience united by our passion for science.

JHU iGEM 2010