Project Background
From 2006.igem.org
Interaction of UV Photon-Iron Porphyrins Genes: A Microbial Biosensor.
A kind of Background
A Biosensor is an analytical device that couples microorganisms with a transducer to enable rapid, accurate and sensitive detection of target analytes in approaches diverses as environmental monitoring, medicine, food processing and safety (Yu Lei, et al 2006).
Assembled machine by South American team is based in the sensorbility of iron by the promoters PI and PII from the autotrophic bacteria Acidithiobacilus ferrooxidans rus operon. But it is not our final objective to sensor iron in medium, in fact, we want to establish trought our biosensoring machine a direct relation between photon (UV) - fenton (FE) reaction, in different conditions of Ferric Iron, UV, and oxygen. Furthermore, to understand how UV ligth works as a source of energy. Redox potentials, concentration ratio of metal ions, and ferromagnetism can be good inductors of gene expression and/or microbial growth in extreme conditions (Cuero, 2005). Cationic porphyrins such as iron bind to the DNA through an oxidation-reduction mechanism and electric current and/or UV light can activate acceptors for microbial growth, depending on the concentration of the metal ions (Cuero 2003, Cuero et al 2005). The level of electric current (A) used induces formation of oxidants (electron acceptors). Thus stimulating the bacterial growth through enhancement of genes expression, but depending of the ratio of the metals and/or different state of valence (Cuero et. al 2005)
High iron concentrations are associated to some extreme environments found on earth where only few microorganisms can survive. Assembling a biological system able to response to some extreme conditions (and additionally under UV presence) that resemble conditions on Mars will help us to understand better the transition from inorganic molecules to organic compunds (biogenesis) on earth and what life really is as a physical-chemical and biological system (Cuero 2003).
"Enjoying life from extreme conditions"
1st Synthetic Biology and iGEM South American Team.
