Part:BBa_J37015

Prey Molecule Generator (AHL) + GFP Reporter

Prey Genotype + Reporter

Usage and Biology

Biology:

• In nature, quorum sensing is used for cell-cell communication to co-ordinate particular behaviours or actions once the cell population has reached a sufficiently large size.
• This part generates the quorum sensing molecule, AHL via a positive feedback loop:

• The tetR promoter constitutively produces LuxR. AHL then forms a complex with luxR and lux pR promoter, expressing LuxI and GFP. LuxI causes the production of AHL. GFP can be used to monitor transcription of LuxI as a check for the functionality of the part.

• The positive feedback loop is triggered once cell population reaches a certain size.
• The behaviour of this part was successfully modelled, generating a [http://openwetware.org/wiki/IGEM:IMPERIAL/2006/project/Oscillator/project_browser/Prey_Construct/Modelling transfer curve of AHL vs. Time].

Usage:

• This part was created by iGEM@Imperial 2006 to be used as the prey part in their 2006 project [http://openwetware.org/wiki/IGEM:IMPERIAL/2006 'Engineering a Molecular Predation Oscillator'] to generate a the production of Acyl-Homoserine Lactone (a quorum sensing molecule).

Other Uses:

• This part could be used to amplify a signal:

• A small amount of AHL present in the cell can be used to trigger the production of much more AHL via the positive feedback loop of this part.

• This part could be used to monitor cell population size.

Sequence and Features

Assembly Compatibility:

• 10
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
• 12
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]
• 21
  INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]

  Illegal BglII site found at 1724
  
• 23
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
• 25
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]
• 1000
  INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]

  Illegal BsaI.rc site found at 1004
  Illegal BsaI.rc site found at 2400