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The ultimate goal of the University of Illinois 2012 iGEM team is to construct an RNA based PUF protein toolkit which may be utilized for the manipulation of gene expression. Customizable manipulation will involve gene silencing by specific RNA scission. Also, the PUF protein's properties also allow for its use in optimizing multi-step enzymatic pathways. In this way, we aim to improve the versatility and cost efficiency of biological production systems by use of our toolkit. In developing a protein based RNA binding toolkit, researchers will be able to transmute the biobricked PUF to do what is necesary for their scientific endeavors. We seek to standardize and characterize the nature of PUF.
Aside from our main project researching the RNA specific affinity of PUF and its respective endonuclease fusion protein variants, we have also devoted time and resources into exploring and testing other potential applications for PUF. Mainly, our ancillary projects directly related to PUF include research involving an RNA scaffold and an enzymatic assembly line based on such a scaffold.
Additionally we have characterized the 2011 University of Washington iGEM team's Petrobrick (BBa_K590025).
To read more about these projects and the data we collected, please visit their respective pages. You can reach them by the hyperlinks in this section.
