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Team:Grenoble-EMSE-LSU
From 2013.igem.org
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<h1>Talk'E. Coli</h1> | <h1>Talk'E. Coli</h1> | ||
| - | <h2>Light Automated Cell Control (Lac²)</h2> | + | <h2>through Light Automated Cell Control (Lac²)</h2> |
<p><strong>This year, the Grenoble-EMSE-LSU iGEM team has developed a bioelectronic device enabling the population control of a bacterial culture with light: Talk’E. Coli.</strong><br><br> | <p><strong>This year, the Grenoble-EMSE-LSU iGEM team has developed a bioelectronic device enabling the population control of a bacterial culture with light: Talk’E. Coli.</strong><br><br> | ||
In general, bacteria are among the fastest growing and most widespread organisms on Earth. They can thrive in nearly every environment or ecosystem, and some can even reach a doubling time of only 10min [1]. Even though bacterial growth conforms to quite simple mathematical laws, many parameters of this process are far from being fully understood. Unraveling these genotypic and phenotypic processes represents an important challenge in current public health issues. Conceptually, we have developed a biological system that will enable researchers to monitor and control cellular growth with light. Such an undertaking could be of great interest for improving the understanding of bacterial functions, especially in regards to characterizing cellular populations and the defense mechanisms involved with oxidative stress responses.<br><br> | In general, bacteria are among the fastest growing and most widespread organisms on Earth. They can thrive in nearly every environment or ecosystem, and some can even reach a doubling time of only 10min [1]. Even though bacterial growth conforms to quite simple mathematical laws, many parameters of this process are far from being fully understood. Unraveling these genotypic and phenotypic processes represents an important challenge in current public health issues. Conceptually, we have developed a biological system that will enable researchers to monitor and control cellular growth with light. Such an undertaking could be of great interest for improving the understanding of bacterial functions, especially in regards to characterizing cellular populations and the defense mechanisms involved with oxidative stress responses.<br><br> | ||
Revision as of 12:09, 9 August 2013
Our system utilizes Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria that are producing the photosensitizing protein KillerRed (KR). When illuminated with light, the KR fluorescent protein (580/630nm) produces Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). These species irreversibly damage cell proteins, membranes, and DNA, ultimately leading to cell death [2]. Bacterial growth is monitored by measuring the fluorescence of cells containing KillerRed, and population control can be achieved by modulating the amount of ROS produced inside the bacteria with light stimulation. Since the amount of ROS produced is closely related to the amount of intracellular KillerRed, a photosensitive system [3-4] was developed to regulate the concentration of this protein.
