Probactys

Probactys: Programmable Bacterial Catalysts.

FP6- NEST-PATHFINDER EU call on Synthetic Biology, Project nr 029104 (5 countries, 6 partners). 2006-2009.

The project aims at constructing of a functioning, streamlined bacterial cell devoid of most of its genome and endowed with a series of highly coordinated, newly assembled genetic circuits for the biodegradation and biotransformation of a range of chloroaromatics and that would include (although not necessarily in this order or all together) circuits for synchronized behaviour, noise minimisation and/or low-temperature biocatalysis and, in addition, amenable to directed, accelerated evolution so that the function of each or some of the individual circuits can be optimized (eg., biodegradative circuits that would evolve towards the use of  a broader range of chloroaromatics). Furthermore, by achieving such constructs as a proof-of-principle, it is aimed at establishing a solid framework for the construction and engineering of cells performing effectively and efficiently specific functions of biotechnological, environmental or medical interest. This encompasses the production of series of different, versatile circuits and corresponding components that can be used as building blocks in circuit engineering. The work strategy set to attain these goals is depicted in Figure 1. The proposed workflow includes several work packages, each of which intertwining mathematical modeling (dry lab) with wet-lab experimental work as an integral module. The global work strategy will proceed in the following major steps: 1) establishment, standardization and inventory of computational and experimental strategies and platforms as well as the operating procedures among the partners; 2) host template screening and selection (3) genome minimization and sequencing of the minimized genomes ; 4) engineering the different genetic circuits of choice; 5) directed evolution and optimization of the genetic circuits, 6) assessment of the interplay of the evolved circuits with the template genome, and; 7) use of the developed framework and constructed cells for the production of high-added chloroaromatic derivatives.