Description

From 2006.igem.org

Cell-See-Us Thermometer

This construct can be viewed in the Registry at [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_J5530 BBa_J5530].

It is based on a temperature sensitive LacI dimer ([http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_J06501 BBa_J06501]). It is produced in a dimer form which then equilibrates with its tetramer form. This equilibrium can be shifted through changes in temperature.

At low temperatures, there are a large number of tetramers. Theese tetramers represses pLac, thus decreasing the production of monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP) and tetR. This allows for the production of green fluorescent protein (GFP).

Conversely, at high temperatrues, there is a decrease in the number of tetramers. This relieves the repression on mRFP and tetR. tetR then goes on to repress the formation of GFP. Therefore, there is a net production of mRFP.

Thus, at hot temperatures, red fluorescence dominates whereas at low temperature green will dominate.