Project Description

Which is our idea?

Our project aims the realization of a device for gene expression regulation at translation level, regardless of the target gene.

How can we achieve this?

We designed a 50bp non coding sequence (CIS - repressing) to be assembled upstream of the target gene RBS, while its complementary sequence (TRANS - repressor) is to be placed under the control of another promoter. The TRANS - repressing contains also a cover, that is a short sequence complementary to the RBS. When the TRANS-repressor element is present, it binds to the CIS-repressing, forming a RNA duplex and producing an obstruction that prevents the ribosome binding to the RBS.

Figure 1: Absence of TRANS - repressor

Figure 2: Presence of TRANS - repressor

What can we use it for?

After doing some tests to prove that the presence of CIS – repressing doesn't alter the cell normal activities, we are trying to realize some simple circuits in order to characterize our device. Several are the possible future applications, but at the moment we are aiming to oscillators and flip-flop memories.

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