Part:BBa_K1835500
Phi X 147 E Lysis Gene
The phi X 174 bacteriophage is a phage that infects E. coli. The You Lab here at Duke shared with us a strain of bacteria carrying a plasmid which contained the phi X 174 bacteriophage’s E protein, which induces lysis in bacteria. Lysis is caused by a transmembrane tunnel created by the E protein. It is believed that the transmembrane tunnel forms as a result of the E protein inhibiting peptidoglycan synthesis during cell growth.
One example of an application for this cell death gene is that employed by Lingchong You, et al. They designed a construct that contained the lysis gene as well as quorum sensing components, which caused populations oscillations over time. The gene circuit did not work as anticipated, but the oscillations were a product of cell suicide caused by the E lysis gene.
The figure below graphically displays the E lysis protein’s effect on cell growth. The uninduced sample grew approximately four times as well as the fully induced sample.
Sequence and Features
- 10COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
- 12COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]
- 21COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]
- 23COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
- 25COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]
- 1000COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]
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