Why Would You Want To Insert New DNA into E. coli? Insulin Gene Extracted Plasmid
My Focus Insulin Gene Extracted Plasmid
A Closer Look at Taking Up New DNA
What Is Competency?
How does natural competency work?
How does ComK activate late competency genes? K-box promoter ComK Late Competency Gene
How are cells made competent? Natural Competency in B. subtilis –Controlled by ComK Induced Competency in E. coli K-boxes 1014 Both 48 genes Microarray 57 genes
Is natural competency feasible in E. coli?
K-Box to gene distance not consistent.
Building a Testable System AmpR ComK High Copy MWM ComK 1018 bp 506 bp 396 bp 344 bp 298 bp 600 bps
Building a Testable System KanR ComK Low Copy RBS AmpR pKBox High Copy GFP
Testing Fluorescence p < 0.02
Building a Testable System KanR ComK Low Copy RBS AmpR pKBox High Copy GFP RBS
RBS’s: Not Consistent
Promoters: Consistent
Building a Competent System KanR ComK Low Copy
Testing Competency ComK / KanPellet CellsRFP / AmpLB + Kan/Amp
Conclusions In E. coli:In B. subtilis: pKBox + ComK
Acknowledgments Davidson Research Initiative National Science Foundation Howard Hughes Medical Institute James G. Martin Genomics Program Dr. Heyer, Dr. Campbell and Dr. Denham Fellow lab workers Friends and Family