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Team:Groningen/project AND gate
From 2011.igem.org
AND gate
In order to integrate the memory units, we designed an AND gate system which is based on the engineered riboregulator presented by Isaacs at al. in 2004.
The design is based on two subparts, a cis-repressed mRNA (crRNA) and a trans-activating RNA. The crRNA is composed of the sequence of the target gene and an upstream short nucleotid sequence which is complementary to the ribosome binding site (RBS). Repression of gene expression is achieved through sequestration of the RBS by formation of a stem loop structure by the 5'-untranslated region of the crRNA. This prevents binding of the RBS by the 30s ribosomal subunit and subsequent translation. Expression of the taRNA, which is driven by a second promoter, results
to abolish
The system possesses several advantages over regular RNA interference to control gene expression: First and most importantly, it can repress as well as activate translation. This characteristic is crucial for the functionality of our system, as it will allow reset of our circuit to the initial state. Second, both the modular structure and the functionality with a variety of genes predestine the artificial riboregulator of Isaacs at al. for the use in synthetic biology and, more specifically in our genetic circuit.
To modulate gene expression on the translational level, we utilized an engineered riboregulator system introduced by Isaacs, et al. in 2004. Upon transcription the 5’ UTR of the crRNA-LasR transcript will form a stem-loop structure subsequently blocking the RBS and preventing translation. Transcription of a taRNA which is partly complementary to crRNA will unfold the stem loop structure thus exposing the obstructed RBS and permitting translation.
TODO To test the functionality of the engineered riboregulator we want to compare expression of a crRNA-GFP reporter construct in absence and presence of taRNA.
