User:Hnzhu

20.109 Spring 2007

Name

Han Zhu

Tennis is awesome. I'm on the left.

Course

20

Year of Graduation

2009

Email

hnzhu AT mit DOT edu

Hometown

Detroit (Canton), Michigan

Residence

Bexley

Subjects this Term

20.109
7.05
6.00
14.01
UROP (credit)

Research

Current Project:

• Langer Lab
  • embryonic stem cell differentiation and scaffolding

Previous Projects:

• Edelman Lab (HST)
  • vascular wound healing/biochemical interactions of endothelial and smooth muscle cells
    
  • Finite Element Electrocardiogram Software Simulator (FE ECG Sim)
    

Links

MIT Medlinks
MIT Chinese Choral Society
MIT Sport Taekwondo

M13K07 Genome Engineering Plans:

Media:Han Zhu_refactor_M13.doc

Gene	Function	Re-Engineering Plans
I	assembly	Gene I possesses a promoter (Edens et al, 1978). Replace promoter with promoters of known genes that giving various levels of expression (constitutive, uninducible, inducible upon certain environmental conditions) in order to control the amount of membrane channel formation. This would allow us to control the amount of phage secretion (related to the rate of phage infection) from the host.
II	replication of DNA + strand	One way to control rate of phage infection is to control replication of phage DNA based on stimuli from the environment. Assuming gene II also has a promoter, we could implement a strategy similar to that used for gene I.
III	phage tail protein	Modify in such a way that would allow us to directly control the length of the phages that shed from the E. coli host. For instance, we could delay the time at which the p3/p6 cap is added by making p3 expression a function of environmental cues such as ionic strength or pH. We would also have to take the effect this would have on the infection process since p3 is also the protein which binds to the TolA protein on the bacterial pilus.
IV	assembly	Mutate to make certain strains of M13 that are sensitive to detergent and can only grow in detergent-free environments. Likewise, make certain strains of M13 that are not only resistant to detergent, but also to other potentially harmful substances in the environment. Must be sure not to mutate the end of the gene because that would affect gene I.
V	binds ssDNA	Modify expression so that we can control the amount of time the virus DNA spends inside the host (as opposed to actively being packaged and spreading to other bacteria).
VI	phage tail protein	Control the frequency at which it binds to p3, thus controlling the efficiency of p3. (See III for more details on what ramifications controlling p3 would have.)
VII	phage head protein	Add sequence to code for additional residues to add to the N-terminal end (could form the basis for building nano-wires or long filaments of other useful materials. Must be careful when inserting sequence since VII is coupled to IX.
VIII	phage coat protein	Add a tag that increases the affinity of the virus coat to various elements that could form nano-constructs. Must be careful when modifying since the sequence of VIII is coupled to that of IX.
IX	phage head protein	Could implement an idea similar to the one for VII, since they both can have residues added to their N-terminal end, and are similar in size and function. Must be careful when modifying since the sequence of IX is coupled to that of VII and VIII.
X	DNA replication	Modify to add another level of regulation for phage propagation. This, coupled with control of II, could allow complex control of the life cycle behavior of the virus.
XI	assembly	Can make modifications of similar effect as I (playing around with different levels of expression to regulate membrane channels.)

Module 4

20.109:Final Project