IGEM:IMPERIAL/2009/Encapsulation/Recombinases

Killing strategy - Recombinases

Description

Recombinases are DNA-binding enzymes that recognise sites on the DNA and recombine them. By sprinkling the genome with Dif sequences and expressing the recombinase (see below for various ones) under an inducible promoter, we can select for the large scale excision of the genome. This would result in the killing of the bacterium.

The Dif sequence excision mechanism

E. Coli

• XerC and XerD

B. Subtilis

• CodV and RipX[1]

Will excise Dif sites resulting in the deletion of whatever is in between two sites.

1. Sciochetti SA, Piggot PJ, Sherratt DJ, and Blakely G. The ripX locus of Bacillus subtilis encodes a site-specific recombinase involved in proper chromosome partitioning. J Bacteriol. 1999 Oct;181(19):6053-62. DOI:10.1128/JB.181.19.6053-6062.1999 |