IGEM:Cambridge/2008/Brainstorming

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Magnetic Bacteria We are investigating the formation of magnetosomes (membrane bound magnetite particles) in magnetotactic bacteria. This process is believed to take place in the following steps: i) production of invaginations along the inner membrane ii) uptake of iron into these invaginations iii) biomineralisation of the iron into magnetite crystals of a specific size and shape iv) axial alignment of the magnetosomes. This mechanism gives the bacteria the ability to align itself like a compass needle along geomagnetic field lines. We are attempting to engineer the uptake of soluble iron into membrane invaginations in E.coli, and stimulate formation of magnetite using genes from Magnetospirillum. First Day Brainstorming Ideas! Detection TNT (other carbon chemicals?) Pathogens – difficult as need mammalian cells for antibodies, could combine existing tests in one bacterium/device “So that you can smell cancer...” :-S Toxins Mobility Use bacterial redopsin, power flagella Specific chemotaxis/response to pH Logic gates Compile adder – done by previous team Calculator (solving differential equations?) Outputs pH and indicator Colour protein (like GFP) Voltage? Need to be able to line up bacteria – directionality given in E.coli by nanobrain (attach to mechanism for its positioning) Misc Improve secretion mechanism from E.coli Interface biological and electrical systems Identifying carcinogens (like Phillip Oliver’s work) – already well developed Digest urea in swimming pools, so no need for chlorine etc Bio-clock – need reliable biological oscillator Targeted delivery Active sun cream – displays colour after threshold UV exposure, colour goes if more applied, could produce and release melanin? Hair colouring shampoo – fluorescent proteins, can be marketed as “organic”! Chameleon bacteria? Rebecca Koenigsberg-Miles 22:23, 8 July 2008 (UTC): The Serious Stuff! Voltage Output Chris, Rebecca, Marie, Ellis Expand Here Magnetic Linda, Arjun, Hugo Expand Here Turing Patterns Xiao-Hu, Daniel, Kevin, Arjun Expand Here Bouyancy Kathryn, Dmitry, Ian Expand Here Fast Evolution Daniel, LInda, Kevin, Xiao-Hu Expand Here CO Detection/Metabolism Dmitriy, James, Ellis, Ian, Arjun Mini-review - "Carbon monoxide-dependent energy metabolism in anaerobic bacteria and archaea ' - DOI: 10.1007/s00203-008-0382-6 - James Wu 00:23, 10 July 2008 (UTC) Silicate hugo Meeting 21/07/2008 How to carry out our project? There were three different options concerning the organisation of our team : Conduct three equal projects (not directly linked) and try to present each of them at the end Choose only two projects which could be linked Choose a main project and continue investigating on the two others (to check which projects are really doable in 10 weeks) We prefer having one global idea. However, at this stage, all different ideas are potentially good. We chose to continue to investigate on these three projects for a few weeks to see which (or which of them) would be the best. There will be more people investigating on Turing patterns which should be our main project, and two smaller teams investigating on the two other projects. Project Biologists Non biologists Turing Patterns Kevin, Daniel, Linda, James Xiao-Hu, Ian, Marie Voltage Output Ellis, Chris Rebecca Magnetic Kathryn, Dmitriy Arjun How to link our different subject? Bactobrain : Modelling neural system (stimulating APs, Glutamate NT, vesicles, turing development) Waste detection, vesicular packaging and disposal, turng differentiation (or anything) Modelling eukaryotic systems (ions signalling, differentiation, organelle biosynthesis)