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Synthetic Biology underpins advances in the bioeconomy
Biological systems - including the simplest cells - exhibit a broad range of functions to thrive in their environment. Research in the Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology is focused on the possibility of engineering the underlying biochemical processes to solve many of the challenges facing society, from healthcare to sustainable energy. In particular, we model, analyse, design and build biological and biochemical systems in living cells and/or in cell extracts, both exploring and enhancing the engineering potential of biology.
As part of our research we develop novel methods to accelerate the celebrated Design-Build-Test-Learn synthetic biology cycle. As such research in the Centre for Synthetic Biology highly multi- and interdisciplinary covering computational modelling and machine learning approaches; automated platform development and genetic circuit engineering ; multi-cellular and multi-organismal interactions, including gene drive and genome engineering; metabolic engineering; in vitro/cell-free synthetic biology; engineered phages and directed evolution; and biomimetics, biomaterials and biological engineering.
@article{Cehovin:2013:10.1073/pnas.1218832110,
author = {Cehovin, A and Simpson, PJ and McDowell, MA and Brown, DR and Noschese, R and Pallett, M and Brady, J and Baldwin, GS and Lea, SM and Matthews, SJ and Pelicic, V},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.1218832110},
journal = {Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A},
pages = {3065--3070},
title = {Specific DNA recognition mediated by a type IV pilin.},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1218832110},
volume = {110},
year = {2013}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - Natural transformation is a dominant force in bacterial evolution by promoting horizontal gene transfer. This process may have devastating consequences, such as the spread of antibiotic resistance or the emergence of highly virulent clones. However, uptake and recombination of foreign DNA are most often deleterious to competent species. Therefore, model naturally transformable gram-negative bacteria, including the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis, have evolved means to preferentially take up homotypic DNA containing short and genus-specific sequence motifs. Despite decades of intense investigations, the DNA uptake sequence receptor in Neisseria species has remained elusive. We show here, using a multidisciplinary approach combining biochemistry, molecular genetics, and structural biology, that meningococcal type IV pili bind DNA through the minor pilin ComP via an electropositive stripe that is predicted to be exposed on the filaments surface and that ComP displays an exquisite binding preference for DNA uptake sequence. Our findings illuminate the earliest step in natural transformation, reveal an unconventional mechanism for DNA binding, and suggest that selective DNA uptake is more widespread than previously thought.
AU - Cehovin,A
AU - Simpson,PJ
AU - McDowell,MA
AU - Brown,DR
AU - Noschese,R
AU - Pallett,M
AU - Brady,J
AU - Baldwin,GS
AU - Lea,SM
AU - Matthews,SJ
AU - Pelicic,V
DO - 10.1073/pnas.1218832110
EP - 3070
PY - 2013///
SP - 3065
TI - Specific DNA recognition mediated by a type IV pilin.
T2 - Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1218832110
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23386723
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/19665
VL - 110
ER -