In order to explore the modularity and various applications of Protein Nanocompartments (PNCs), we have designed systems that have distinct PNCs, surface modifiers and carogs. Most PNCs are designed to have a specific surface modifying feature and cargo that look at different encapsulation strategies that are specific to these specific PNCs.

Each PNC system covers distinct applications for Research use. Each of our PNC systems is described in detail on our design page.

There are several capsid proteins described in the registry, including the MS2 protein. Our project diversified the capsid proteins available on the registry and are designed as composite parts under control of a T7 inducible promoter (BBa_I712074) a medium strength RBS (BBa_B0034) and a double terminator (BBa_B0015)

Parts Submitted:

his year we were able to submit to the registry in the pSB1C3 plasmid, the Arc minimal construct derived from HIV homology. This construct was theorized by our team this year. The Arc DNA sequence, originally from Rat was compared to the HIV DNA sequence due to Arcs similarities to retrotransposons. This part is theorized to retain its abilities to form capsid structures and deliver RNA to cells. Our results can be found here. We hope to finish cloning all of our designed parts for future studies and application.

BBa_K2683009

Basic Parts:

All of our new parts can be found on the basic parts page and have been placed on the iGEM registry. These contain the four protein nanocompartments and the various cargo proteins and external surface modifiers.

This year we have designed 9 composite parts consisting of 4 capsid proteins with surface modifiers, cargoes with specific modifications for encapsulation and an external part for the surface modification of the P22 capsid. Each composite part has the same design, consisting of the T7 inducible promoter (BBa_I712074), a medium strength RBS (BBa_B0034) and a double terminator (BBa_B0015|)

Improved Parts

As our system deals with the encapsulation of specific cagos one of our future applications is the encapsulation of Cell Free systems. Therefore we are pleased to say that our continuing work with last years project, Next Vivo, will allow us to encapsulate our cell free system . Since last years Jamboree we have been able to clone and characterize 15 more parts and will now submit them to the registry as improved parts. These parts include a his tag on the N or C terminus for purification and follow the general design of a T7 promoter (BBa_I719005), RBS (BBa_B0034) and Double terminator (BBa_B0015).

Biobrick Number	Part Name
BBa_K2683016	Release Factor 1
BBA_K2683017	Release Factor 2
BBa_K2683018	Cysteine tRNS Synthetase (CysRS)
BBa_K2683019	Lysine tRNA Synthetase (LysRS)
BBa_K2683020	Phenylalanine tRNA Synthetase alpha subunit (PheRS alpha)
BBa_K2683021	Serine tRNA Synthetase (SerRS)
BBa_K2683022	Tryptophan tRNA Synthetase (TrpRS)
BBa_K2683023	Valine tRNA Synthetase (ValRS)
BBa_K2683024	Inititation Factor 1
BBa_K2683025	Initiation Factor 3
BBa_K2683026	Elongation Factor-Thermo Unstable (EF-Tu)
BBa_K2683027	Elongation Factor- Thermo Stable (EF-Ts)
BBa_K2683028	MyoKinase (MK)
BBa_K2683029	Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase (NDK)
BBa_K2683030	Peptidyl Prolyl Isomerase (PPiase)

Existing Parts on the Registry

Biobrick Number	Part
BBa_I712074	T7 Promoter
BBa_B0034	Medium strength ribosomal binding site
BBa_B0015	Double Terminator