Modular control of multiple pathways using engineered orthogonal T7 polymerases.

ABSTRACT: Synthetic genetic sensors and circuits enable programmable control over the timing and conditions of gene expression. They are being increasingly incorporated into the control of complex, multigene pathways and cellular functions. Here, we propose a design strategy to genetically separate the sensing/circuitry functions from the pathway to be controlled. This separation is achieved by having the output of the circuit drive the expression of a polymerase, which then activates the pathway from polymerase-specific promoters. The sensors, circuits and polymerase are encoded together on a 'controller' plasmid. Variants of T7 RNA polymerase that reduce toxicity were constructed and used as scaffolds for the construction of four orthogonal polymerases identified via part mining that bind to uniqu

SUBMITTER: Temme K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3458549 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature