Description

From 2006.igem.org

Cell-See-Us Thermometer

This construct can be viewed in the Registry at BBa_J5530.

It is based on a temperature sensitive LacI dimer (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. These tetramers repress pLac, thus decreasing the production of monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP) and tetR. The reduction of tetR allows for the production of green fluorescent protein (GFP).

Conversely, at high temperatures, 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.

Consequently, at high temperatures, red fluorescence dominates whereas at low temperature green will dominate.