Team:KU Leuven/Project/StickerSystem/Design

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   <h3 class="bg-green">The Sticker System</h3>
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    <h3>Oscillator</h3> </a>
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Our initial system for the production of methyl salicylate and β-farnesene relied on direct interaction between the bacteria and the aphids, our BanAphids would be sprayed on the plant. This is ethically and practically challenging since our <b>BanAphids</b> could end up in the environment. <b>We therefore designed an alternative pheromone production system, where the bacteria are kept in semi-permeable pouches</b>. These allow the pheromones to disperse in the air yet the bacteria themselves remain in the bags. Consequently, the presence of aphids secreting honeydew cannot be used as a trigger for the production of both pheromones. <b>Since constitutive production of β-farnesene rapidly renders aphids insensitive, concentrations should fluctuate to prevent habituation. This is typically achieved in an oscillator.</b> Here we will mainly focus on the design of a β-farnesene oscillator, a part of it will be actually made in the lab. The production of methyl salicylate can be regulated similarly.</p>
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The original way of administering our BanAphids to plants, via a spraying system, is perfectly suited for our end-users, <a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/Human_Practices/EndUser">the farmers</a>. However, some of them felt that the <b>direct use of bacteria on crops would scare off consumers</b>. Also, <a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/Safety#regulations">regulations</a> do not allow the spreading of genetically modified organisms in the environment. That's why we came up with a way to <b>keep the BanAphids in a container</b>, a small bag or sticker. However, if our BanAphids are held in a contained environment, the direct contact between bacteria and aphids is lost, as well as the honeydew cue for the production of methyl salicylate. Because of this, an <b>oscillating pheromone production</b> is needed, to prevent aphid habituation to β-farnesene and overburdening of the plant's metabolism by methyl salicylate.</p>
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The sticker we used is courtesy of the 2012 Groningen iGEM team, as a part of their <b>"Food Warden"</b> project. The polymethylpentene sticker has pores in it with a radius of 1 to 10 nm, large enough for the <b>exchange of volatiles</b>, but small enough to <b>keep bacteria inside</b>. It can be easily attached or stuck on a plant (see picture). For more information on the sticker, click <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:Groningen/Sticker">here</a> . </p>
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As a result of keeping the BanAphids in a container, <b>the direct contact between bacteria and aphids is lost</b>, and hereby the honeydew cue. If we were to use our honeydew system, β-farnesene would be constitutively expressed because of the lack of glucose, which makes the BanAphids switch from the production of β-farnesene to methyl salicylate. However, after a certain time <b>aphids get habituated</b> to the β-farnesene signal, rendering our sticker useless. Constitutive expression of methyl salicylate isn't an option either, since constant activation of <a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/Project/Ecological/Background#MeS effect on plants1">plant defence systems</a> would put a burden on the plant, thus reducing crop yields. As a solution to this, we came up with an <b>oscillator</b> that switches between the production of β-farnesene and methyl salicylate through time. On the oscillator page, we elaborate further on the design, genes and wetlab results of the oscillator.</p>
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Latest revision as of 03:20, 29 October 2013

iGem

Secret garden

Congratulations! You've found our secret garden! Follow the instructions below and win a great prize at the World jamboree!


  • A video shows that two of our team members are having great fun at our favourite company. Do you know the name of the second member that appears in the video?
  • For one of our models we had to do very extensive computations. To prevent our own computers from overheating and to keep the temperature in our iGEM room at a normal level, we used a supercomputer. Which centre maintains this supercomputer? (Dutch abbreviation)
  • We organised a symposium with a debate, some seminars and 2 iGEM project presentations. An iGEM team came all the way from the Netherlands to present their project. What is the name of their city?

Now put all of these in this URL:https://2013.igem.org/Team:KU_Leuven/(firstname)(abbreviation)(city), (loose the brackets and put everything in lowercase) and follow the very last instruction to get your special jamboree prize!

tree ladybugcartoon

Design

You are here!

Oscillator

Drylab integrating into wetlab

The original way of administering our BanAphids to plants, via a spraying system, is perfectly suited for our end-users, the farmers. However, some of them felt that the direct use of bacteria on crops would scare off consumers. Also, regulations do not allow the spreading of genetically modified organisms in the environment. That's why we came up with a way to keep the BanAphids in a container, a small bag or sticker. However, if our BanAphids are held in a contained environment, the direct contact between bacteria and aphids is lost, as well as the honeydew cue for the production of methyl salicylate. Because of this, an oscillating pheromone production is needed, to prevent aphid habituation to β-farnesene and overburdening of the plant's metabolism by methyl salicylate.

Sticker

The sticker we used is courtesy of the 2012 Groningen iGEM team, as a part of their "Food Warden" project. The polymethylpentene sticker has pores in it with a radius of 1 to 10 nm, large enough for the exchange of volatiles, but small enough to keep bacteria inside. It can be easily attached or stuck on a plant (see picture). For more information on the sticker, click here .

Oscillator

As a result of keeping the BanAphids in a container, the direct contact between bacteria and aphids is lost, and hereby the honeydew cue. If we were to use our honeydew system, β-farnesene would be constitutively expressed because of the lack of glucose, which makes the BanAphids switch from the production of β-farnesene to methyl salicylate. However, after a certain time aphids get habituated to the β-farnesene signal, rendering our sticker useless. Constitutive expression of methyl salicylate isn't an option either, since constant activation of plant defence systems would put a burden on the plant, thus reducing crop yields. As a solution to this, we came up with an oscillator that switches between the production of β-farnesene and methyl salicylate through time. On the oscillator page, we elaborate further on the design, genes and wetlab results of the oscillator.

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