Team:BostonU/QS

Quorum sensing is a system that controls population density using stimulus and response. These types of systems can be commandeered for use in synthetic biology and re-engineering to control gene expression in genetic circuits that are implanted in bacteria. The bacteria utilize quorum sensing to coordinate gene expression. To do so, the bacteria produce and secrete signaling molecules. These bacteria have receptors that detect the signaling molecule. When the signaling molecule binds to the receptor, it induces gene expression. The presence of one or more proteins will induce a promoter that controls the production of signal proteins, such as fluorescent proteins, or of other functional genes to link synthetic genetic circuits together.

A LuxIR-type quorum sensing system has been detected in Chromobacterium violaceum (Stauff et al., 2011). The goal is to introduce a new LuxR/I-like quorum sensing system to synthetic biology via MoClo. Chromobacterium violaceum, a gram-negative bacteria found in flora from water and soil in tropical and subtropical regions, uses the CviR/I system. The CviR/I system is homologous to the LuxR/I system. This can be done by cloning and characterizing CviR/I and pVioA, a promoter with CviR binding site) into E.coli.