Regulatory
Nsense

Part:BBa_M36356:Design

Designed by: Ana Ordonez, Chris Harrell   Group: Stanford BIOE44 - S11   (2014-10-23)


A sensor that activates in the presence of nitrate in anaerobic conditions in E. coli.


Assembly Compatibility:
  • 10
    COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
  • 12
    COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]
  • 21
    COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]
  • 23
    COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
  • 25
    COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]
  • 1000
    COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]


Design Notes

We had to find the appropriate binding areas for the promoter.

In E. coli, the nir promoter is activated by presence of nitrate or nitrate in anaerobic conditions. As oxygen decreases, FNR bonds to the FNR I site and transcription begins, as shown in the diagram below. When there is a both a lack of oxygen and a presence of nitrates/nitrites, NarL bonds to the Narl/P site, blocking IHF from bonding to the IHF I site.

This part does not have the transcription part of the DNA sequence, and will be combined with a Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) actuator.


E. coli NIR diagram.jpeg


Diagram from: Systems Biology and Biotechnology of Escherichia coli


Applications

This part is intended for use in agriculture, in which nitrogen is essential for crop growth. E. coli cells with this sensor can be added to a soil sample that is put under anaerobic conditions. If nitrates/nitrites are present, the sample will glow, due to GFP.

Source

Regulation by Nucleoid-Associated Proteins at the Escherichia coli nir Operon Promoter Douglas F. Browning*, Jeffrey A. Cole, and Stephen J. W. Busby[http://jb.asm.org/content/190/21/7258.full#cited-by]


Systems Biology and Biotechnology of Escherichia coli edited by Sang Yup Lee [http://books.google.com/books?id=lovK2k9Uaw4C&pg=PA266&lpg=PA266&dq=E.+coli+nir+Operon+Promoter&source=bl&ots=t8Y7hiEcla&sig=Baw5LdEUZaCCl-yNdqpcYvvqjWM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=M3BJVPziBYWWigKpnYHQCA&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=E.%20coli%20nir%20Operon%20Promoter&f=fal]

References