A nucleoside kinase as a dual selector for genetic switches and circuits.

ABSTRACT: The development of genetic switches and their integrated forms (genetic circuits) with desired specifications/functions is key for success in synthetic biology. Due to the difficulty in rational design, genetic switches and circuits with desirable specifications are mostly obtained by directed evolution. Based on a virus-derived nucleotide kinase as a single-gene dual selector, we constructed a robust, efficient and stringent selection system for genetic switches. This method exhibited unprecedented enrichment efficacy (>30,000-fold) of functional switches from non-functional ones in a single selection cycle. In addition, negative (OFF) selection was exceptionally stringent, allowing the rapid and efficient selection of non-leaky from leaky circuits.

SUBMITTER: Tashiro Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3035434 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature