Supercoiling-driven gene control in synthetic DNA circuits
In synthetic biology, we use understanding of gene expression (translation of DNA to proteins) to `program' bacterial cells so that they exhibit designed behaviour, such as producing specific proteins to order.
Traditionally, this process considers the cell to include a circuit of `logic gates', with inputs and outputs being proteins, and the gates themselves being genes. By adding specific genes to cells, we can `program' specific circuits.
Supercoiling is a mechanism that tightens or untwists the DNA helix. It is a key process in gene expression, but is typically ignored in Synthetic Biology tools.
Our cross-disciplinary team from Leeds (Physics), York (CS/NSC), and Trinity College Dublin (Microbiology), is jointly funded by UKRI/EPSRC and Science Foundation Ireland. We are working to include supercoiling mechanisms in the development of a new, more powerful, Synthetic Biology design and programming toolkit, `TORC'.
This toolkit will allow the design of more powerful high-level cellular programs, supporting a wide range of Synthetic Biology applications.
Contact us
Professor Susan Stepney
Non-Standard Computing Research Group lead
Contact us
Professor Susan Stepney
Non-Standard Computing Research Group lead