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Nitric Oxide Sensing & The Hybrid Promoters | The Comparator Circuit | Theoretical Projects

Biological systems function on a great variety of different integrative mechanisms which include post-transcriptional attenuation. We believe that Synthetic Biology is at its most effective when these natural mechanisms are taken and applied in novel situations. This ethos we have sought to emulate by creating our own mechanism of post-transcriptional attentuation; the Comparator Circuit.

Contents 1 Origins of the Idea 2 Preliminary Lab 3 Lab Work 4 Future Experiments 5 Future Applications

Origins of the Idea

In a previous project, the apparent lack of specificity of the promoter BioBrick we looked to improve upon proved to be a minor difficulty that we felt had not been addressed previously in the Registry. Thus we decided to tackle the issue by devising a way of quantitatively measuring the output of NO with the non-specific promoter we were using through a novel gene regulation system.

Preliminary Lab

. Designed DNA constructs for the subtractive system and had them synthesised

Lab Work

. Made into biobricks (link to registry page)

Future Experiments

. Ligating with different promoters and reporters to test

. Ultimately ligate with NO-sensing promoters and effecter enzymes to control NO levels/reporters to detect NO levels quantitatively

Future Applications

. Diabetes

. Cancer

. Environment/Pollution