Submitted by Patrick M Shih on
Rises on CO2 levels in our atmosphere together with climate change and continuous populational growth demands new, innovative and clean technologies to be developed for both carbon mitigation and crop production enhancement for food. Synthetic biology is a great tool currently being used to modify and bioengineer organisms that are genetically malleable. This allow us to introduce difficult to study pathways from other organisms into model ones.
Cyanobacteria is a large group of bacteria that uses the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle to fix carbon dioxide into sugar. An important part of this process is housed inside a microcompartment, the carboxysome. There, the most critical enzyme for carbon fixation, Rubisco is housed, closely to its substrate, CO2, increasing the rate for carboxylation.
There’s an interest in introducing this carbon-capturing process using CB into plants, to increase crop yields with benefits for global bioeconomy.
The goal of the project is to use genetic engineering to introduce a cyanobacterium CB into a model organism Escherichia coli. This will allow us to further study each component required for a CB assembly and functionality. This is an important step that will lay the foundation for the implementation of efficient carbon fixation into different groups of cyanobacteria and potentially higher plants.
The primary project will involve working with a graduate student to clone the genes of the into Escherichia coli. Mentees will learn and apply 1) PCR for cloning and genotyping 2) DNA assembly techniques such as Gibson assembly 3) Generation of transgenic Escherichia coli lines using assembled DNA and 4) Analysis of transgenic Escherichia coli using techniques such as growth phenotyping. Additional biochemical techniques, as well as opportunities for independent research projects, may also be incorporated based on mentee interest and as the project develops. It will require basic and build upon student’s genetically engineering and microbiology techniques.
Minimum qualifications: Biology 1A or 1B (may be taken concurrently), 3.0 GPA, and interest in microbiology and genetics. Hours are 10+, and negotiable. Enthusiasm for research is necessary, and care-to-detail and commitment to scheduled work times are critical, as well as team work skills.