iGEM TEAM EPF-LAUSANNE

International Genetically Engineered Machine

OUR TEAM & OUR SCHOOL

NicolasChristian

GabrielaTu Nathalie

Carine

Nicolas Rafael

Heidi Sebastian Caroline Mélanie

10 undergraduate students

6 advisors

Specific Aims:

1. To develop strategies to regulate gene expression using light as a stimulus.

2. To use computational tools to optimize the selected strategies.

Our approach: To utilize defined molecular systems involved in gene regulation.

The activity of the molecules involved should be amenable to regulation by light-induced changes in protein conformation.

Gene Regulation by Modulating Protein Conformational Changes:

The LovTAP system

Features:

- Light-activated

- Reversible

- Synthetic system

RO#1

RO#2

Gene Regulation by Modulating Protein Conformational Changes:

Experimental Design

Experimental Design: iGEM TOOLS

Experimental Design: Cloning Strategy

Results: Read-out n°1 characterization

RO#1 without Tryptophan RO#1 with Tryptopan

Results: Entire system (LovTAP + read-out n°2)

Specific Aim 2 : To use computational tools to optimize the selected strategies

Desired Features:

• Increased lifetime of the light-activated protein

• Enhanced affinity of the binding of the light-activated protein to the DNA

The LovTAP system

Experimental Design: Insight from Molecular Dynamics and Biochemical Modeling

Applications

Specific and temporal induction of gene transcription in mammalian cells

Coupling with gene recombination systems

Sebastian Maerkl : Laboratory of Biological Network Characterization

Bart Deplancke : Laboratory of Systems Biology and Genetics

Matteo Dal Peraro : Laboratory for Biomolecular Modeling

Felix Naef : Computational systems biology

Acknowledgements

Thank You For Your Attention