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Team:Evry/Biology/Sensors
From 2014.igem.org
Biology - Classic & RNAseq-based sensors
Phenol biosensor :
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Phenol and its derivative are of major concern since their accumulation in the environment, as a result of
intensive human activity, cause toxicity for both flora and fauna [1] [2].In the context of bioremediation and preservation of water we designed a biosensor of phenol that allows us to measure the concentration of phenol in a given marine environment.
- Biosensor construction
- Dmpr, a phenol dependant signal transducer
Presentation
DmpR is a member of NtrC protein family. NtrC-type regulators activate RNAP containing the alternative sigma factor 54. The s54-RNAP holoenzyme forms a stable complex with -12 and -24 promoters but is unable to start transcription without further activation NtrC protein family strongly stimulate the polymerase complex. They bind to DNA regions more than 100bp upstream from the s54-RNAP binding site (UAS). Interaction between the regulatory protein and s54-RNAP is facilitated by a bend of DNA.
Structure
DmpR is a 563 amino acid long protein. Although no direct structural information have been described (e.g protein purification), comparisons with other member of NtrC family and genetic experiments have brought some insight on its structure. Four domains are classically described for members of NtrC family :
A-domain (211 amino acid long) involved in direct interaction with effector. One inducer binding site is present per monomer, which was demonstrated for DmpR and which could be pinpointed to a subregion between amino acid residues 107 and 186
B-domain is a linker between A and C domain.
C-domain being the most highly conserved region among the family members, is involved in ATP binding and hydrolysis and in s54-RNAP interaction
D-domain for Dna binding with HTH motif (helix turn helix).
Effectors dependant activation
DmpR-like activators require a chemical effector and ATP as the cofactor. The effector is usually the primary substrate of the target pathway or a compound related to this. Phenol and its derivative are typical effector for DmpR
PCBs biosensor :
- Biosensor parts
Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707 is one of the strain which are able to degrade polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The bacteria contains a biphenyl-catabolic (bph) gene cluster (bphR1A1A2-(orf3)-bphA3A4BCX0X1X2X3D). bphR1 is a positive regulator for itself and bphX0X1X2X3D and is responsible of the degradation of PCBs. Watanabe et al showed that an other regulatory protein, bphr2, is involved in the regulation of theses genes. bphR2 can detect PCBs when it diffuses into the cell and activate degradation genes by activating the transcription of bphR1.
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In 2013, Saclays' team wanted to construct a biosensor for PCBs, a project that failed. So our first aim was to finish their construct and to optimize it. The construction is composed by a constitutive promoter (BBa_J23114), a RBS (BBa_B0034), bphR2 gene (BBa_K1413021), which has been mutated because of a pstI site in its sequence, bphR1 promoter region (BBa_K1155001), received from Saclay’s team, RFP (BBa_E1010) and a terminator (BBa_B0015)
- How function our biosensor ?
In absence of PCBs :
bphR2 (BBa_K1413021) is bound to bphR1 promoter (BBa_K1155001). Transcription of RFP isn't possible.
In presence of PCBs :
When compound diffuses into the cell, it binds to bphr2 protein. This protein undergoes a conformational change and releases from the promoter that its allows the transcription of RFP.
- Improvement
Their first problem was a pstI site in their bphR2 sequence (BBa_K1155009) so this gene has been mutated by keeping the same codon bla bla bla
- Dmpr, a phenol dependant signal transducer
This phenol biosensor rely on both signal transducing component, DmpR and inducible fluorescence emitting component based on the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). Both elements are assembled in a single plasmid and allow bacteria to respond to the presence of phenol by emitting fluorescence.
