Team:SJTU-BioX-Shanghai

From 2013.igem.org

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Revision as of 14:46, 18 October 2013

How to regulate an entire metabolic pathway in vivo, delicately, accurately and conveniently, simultaneously controlling the expression of several genes? And how to optimize metabolic fluxes so as to maximize desired products? For decades, these questions remain haunting to “bioengineers”(especially synthetic biologists) who would like to have certain metabolites produced in live cells. The difficulty is again raised up when target genes endogenously reside on the genome, or have been implemented into the genome.

So this year, our team, SJTU-BioX-Shanghai, is dedicated to solve the problem. By integrating CRISPRi, the newly developed expression interference tool, with three light sensors (namely red light sensor, green light sensor and blue light sensor), we provide an easy-to-use BLACK BOX, a versatile platform on which researchers are able to quantitatively adjust the expression of any three enzymes in whatever pathway – to change the target, simply change the small guide RNA (sgRNA)!

In addition, with the luminous device and accompanying software, one could simply enter metabolomics data (catalytic rates of related enzymes) into our User Interface. The software will automatically conduct flux balance analysis (FBA), giving out suggestions for optimal expression value of different enzymes. Then, the expression value would be converted into intensity of lights that are finally to be exerted on cell cultures. It is -- just convenient! :)

The Luminous System produces red, green and blue lights of adjustable intensity into cell cultures.

Light Sensors transform optical signals into biological/chemical signals.

CRISPRi receives biological/chemical signals from Light Sensors and responds by exerting proper interrogation on multiple gene targets

Achievements

The BREAKTHROUGH we made: an easy-to-use BLACK BOX, a versatile platform for in vivo optimization of metabolic pathways.

The System we built: An wonderful Integration of Computer, Microcontroller Unit, Light Sources and their corresponding Sensors, and CRISPRi, a versatile gene interrogation tool. From digital to optical and finally to biological!
The Teams we Helped: Shared our parts with Zhejiang University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Helped with the modeling of NTU-Taida and NTU Taiwan. Assisted Shandong University establish their own team.
The Parts we submitted: CRISPRi and Light Sensors. Besides, we shared in our DIY section how to "manufacture" our luminous device, and we open-sourced our User Interface software.
The Application we proposed: Cooperate with companies, attempting to apply our project into biological industry.
A Flaw we found: We helped the author of a JMB paper discover a mistaken unit for light intensity.

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 				<br><strong><font face="Wingdings " size="4"><img src="/wiki/images/7/73/12SJTU_r.png"></font><font face="Cambria, serif " size="4"> The Parts we submitted:</font></strong> CRISPRi and Light Sensors. Besides, we shared in our DIY section how to "manufacture" our luminous device, and we open-sourced our User Interface software.
 				<br><strong><font face="Wingdings " size="4"><img src="/wiki/images/7/73/12SJTU_r.png"></font><font face="Cambria, serif " size="4"> The Application we proposed:</font></strong>  Cooperate with companies, attempting to apply our project into biological industry.
-                                 <br><strong><font face="Wingdings " size="4"><img src="/wiki/images/7/73/12SJTU_r.png"></font><font face="Cambria, serif " size="4"> A Flaw we found:</font></strong> We helped the author of a JMB paper discover a mistaken unit for light intensity. <br>
+                                 <br><strong><font face="Wingdings " size="4"><img src="/wiki/images/7/73/12SJTU_r.png"></font><font face="Cambria, serif " size="4"> A Flaw we found:</font></strong> We helped the author of a JMB paper discover a mistaken unit for light intensity. <br><br>
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