Team:TU-Delft/Project

Project Overview

In life one is bound to encounter problems. Nature knows this more than any other and her problem-solving ingenuity is impressive. With synthetic biology we are able to combine the best of all Nature's solutions. Designing these combinations with utility for humans in mind results in so-called “Genetically Engineered Machines”, the core of iGEM.

In our project we strive for full control of the attachment and detachment of cells. In nature attachment consists of a complex network involving an extracellular matrix containing a wide variety of compounds. This complexity has hindered easy regulation. We will give Escherichia coli a much simpler but equally effective way of binding: mussel glue. Expressing the strongest protein responsible for the attachment of mussels to rocks, we can allow E. coli to strongly attach to even glass and plastic, whenever we want it, and subsequently releasing it again. This system should be viewed in the same category as “ the wheel”, by itself it is just a neat trick, but combination is key. Combining it for example with an E. coli capable biocatalytic conversion , one can create microbial production lines, use attachment for temporary rapid settling of biomass before product removal, or achieve fundamental premiers like bacterial cells forming a micro circle on command.

Workflow

Our workflow has been designed in such a way that each project is individual and independent. All the projects however contribute to one greater project.