Control of Gene Expression to Fit Model

Promotion

Successful biological modeling of the HPP requires us to be able to transcribe multiple adjacent genes. Due to the nature of our "flippable" hix-hin recombinase model, insertion of promoter sequence after the start of transcription is not practical. Our team needs a strong promoter to be able to sucessfully transcribe all the subsequent genes without the help of a second promoter downstream.

Using the biobrick system we were able to choose any promoter from any operon in the E.Coli genome.

pLac
The Lac operon promoter (pLac) was an attractive first option due to its ability to transcribe multiple adjacent genes in the Lac operon (lacZ, lacY, and lacA are all enzymes used for sugar metabolism) a controllable mechanism of repression(lacI).