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Team:EPF-Lausanne
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| - | [[Image:LovTAP_dimer.png|right|300px|LovTAP dimer bound to DNA]] | + | [[Image:LovTAP_dimer.png|right|300px|thumb|LovTAP dimer bound to DNA]] |
Recent discoveries of photoreceptors in many organisms got us excited about the possibility of using light-responsive genetic tools in synthetic biology. Indeed, such tools could in principle induce phenotypic changes in a more localized, preciser and faster fashion than currently available chemical-based methods. To evaluate the biotechnological potential of such tools, we specifically aimed to induce a change in gene expression, more specifically to directly turn a gene on or off, in a living organism, in response to a light stimulus. | Recent discoveries of photoreceptors in many organisms got us excited about the possibility of using light-responsive genetic tools in synthetic biology. Indeed, such tools could in principle induce phenotypic changes in a more localized, preciser and faster fashion than currently available chemical-based methods. To evaluate the biotechnological potential of such tools, we specifically aimed to induce a change in gene expression, more specifically to directly turn a gene on or off, in a living organism, in response to a light stimulus. | ||
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Revision as of 22:43, 21 October 2009
Concept
Recent discoveries of photoreceptors in many organisms got us excited about the possibility of using light-responsive genetic tools in synthetic biology. Indeed, such tools could in principle induce phenotypic changes in a more localized, preciser and faster fashion than currently available chemical-based methods. To evaluate the biotechnological potential of such tools, we specifically aimed to induce a change in gene expression, more specifically to directly turn a gene on or off, in a living organism, in response to a light stimulus.
For this purpose, we used a light-sensitive DNA binding protein "LovTAP" (for Light, Oxygen, Voltage Tryptophan-Activated Protein) to convert a light input into a chosen output, here fluorescence generated by the RFP reporter gene.
The results clearly show that this light-induced gene switch tool works in vivo, demonstrating the feasibility of implementing such powerful technology for a diverse range of bio(techno)logical applications.
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