Part:BBa_M36246

In order to detect Cadmium, we used a cadmium sensor from E.Coli. The genome of E.Coli codes for three genes, CadC, CadA, and CadB which allow for some resistance to cadmium. CadC, BBa_M36244, is a transcription factor that along with cadmium binds to a promoter, called Pcad, BBa_M36245, that promotes CadA and CadB. By using Pcad as a promoter, we can control the expression of any gene that follows it, using cadmium. To express Pcad, we also need CadC. We constitutively expressed CadC with a medium strength promoter from biofab.org, apFAB64,BBa_m36247. Following the promoter is a bicistronic ribosome binding site, BD2, BBa_M36282. CadC is already produced in E.Coli in small amounts, and more so with cadmium present. Our plasmid’s Pcad promoter may use either the CadC expressed from our plasmid or expressed naturally in E.Coli. Either way, Pcad will sense the presence of cadmium. After CadC, we placed a strong terminator, apFAB381.