Team:Calgary/Description
OUR PROJECT
This year, iGEM uCalgary 2018 sought to address some of the key dilemmas affecting targeted gene integration: accuracy of desired insertions, the maximum size of recombinant DNA, and the expression of integrated DNA once it is within a host chromosome. To this extent, uCalgary developed three main systems in order to construct a cell line which could facilitate large, precise gene insertions which were then protected from transcriptional silencing and methylation upon insertion. These three systems were:
- A CRISPR/Cas9 system, to introduce a recombination target site into the host genome
- A FlpO/Beta resolvase system, to swap desired sequences into the genome at the recombination target site and lock them in
- A Chromatin Modifying Elements system, to stop transcriptional silencing and promoter methylation, as well as reduce gene crosstalk
Keep reading below for a breakdown of each of our three project segments!
CRISPR
Inserting a landing pad into the genome to enable recombination
CRISPR/Cas9 is a mechanism which induces targeted breaks into DNA, allowing the insertion of foreign DNa sequences into the break site. This method was selected for its targeted insertion properties to knock-in a Flp recognition site into the genome, opening the door to recombination in later steps. While the maximum knock-in size of CRISPR/Cas9 insertion is limited, the small size of our FRT recognition site was not predicted to cause any errors.
FLP-Beta
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Fuga dignissimos magnam commodi id? Aut omnis officiis, aspernatur velit eaque labore rem accusamus repellendus porro aperiam, asperiores quidem beatae. Voluptatibus, aspernatur! Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Eveniet optio, cupiditate aut consectetur labore fugit fuga vero quas pariatur sit et? Repellat voluptatibus, molestias soluta architecto dolorem doloremque quaerat modi.
Chromatin Modifying Elements
Maintenance of integrated genes via minimization of gene silencing and neighbourhood effects
Gene inserts are at risk of being rendered ineffective even after successful integration into the genome, as the spread of heterochromatin and DNA methylation can cause gene silencing. Furthermore, regulatory elements within both the insert and genome near the locus of integration may interact bidirectionally, leading to changes in gene expression known as neighbourhood effects. Chromatin modifying elements (CMEs) can help to generate an isolated, protected pocket within the genome, thereby assuring stable and sustained expression of integrated genes within eukaryotic systems.
Microfluidics
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Assumenda nihil recusandae ea suscipit blanditiis! Ut adipisci rem, quisquam sed fugit libero voluptatum! Ratione vitae ipsum magnam nobis molestias, omnis hic.
Software
Each year, iGEM teams develop software in conjunction with their research. However, it is difficult to efficiently access these tools due to the sheer volume of wiki content. Thus, we created an online database called SARA, the Software Aggregating Research Assistant, which organizes software tools created by iGEM teams and allows for the simplified searching. SARA also provides the opportunity for old software to be updated to stay current, and decreases the likelihood that teams will create redundant software.