Objectif A long term goal of synthetic biology is the assembly of a cell from its individual components. A genetic element based on synthetic nucleic acids capable of stable propagation, a synthetic episome, is the minimal genetic element required for the systematic development of all cellular components of a synthetic organism based on artificial nucleic acids. Recent progress in DNA polymerase engineering has successfully isolated variants with expanded substrate spectra capable of efficiently synthesising hexitol nucleic acids (HNA) from DNA templates, and capable of synthesising DNA from HNA templates. Together, they demonstrate that HNA can serve as a genetic material. However, the unavoidable DNA intermediate in HNA replication and their limited processivity greatly limit the potential of these polymerases for the development of an HNA episome.To establish an HNA episome, processive HNA-directed HNA polymerases as well as accessory proteins to support episome maintenance and replication are required. The bacteriophage phi29 requires only four proteins (including polymerase, terminal protein, single-stranded and double-stranded DNA binding proteins) and two DNA elements (origin of replication and high affinity sites for its double-stranded DNA binding protein) to replicate and maintain its linear genome, making it a suitable starting point for the development of an HNA episome.We propose to develop novel in vitro selection methodologies that will allow the directed evolution of a minimal HNA episome based on the phi29 system – including the isolation of an HNA-dependent HNA polymerase, a modified terminal protein and single-stranded as well as double-stranded HNA binding proteins. In addition to being a landmark result in synthetic biology, such HNA episome can form the basis of safer genetically modified organisms, in which the traits are encoded outside biology in an HNA episome dependent on the continued supply of artificial substrates for its maintenance. Champ scientifique natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesnucleic acidsnatural sciencesbiological sciencessynthetic biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Thème(s) ERC-SG-LS9 - ERC Starting Grant - Applied life sciences and biotechnology Appel à propositions ERC-2013-StG Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Institution d’accueil UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON Contribution de l’UE € 1 188 594,00 Adresse GOWER STREET WC1E 6BT LONDON Voir sur la carte Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Contact administratif Giles Machell (Mr.) Chercheur principal Vitor Bernardo Bernardes Pinheiro (Dr.) Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée Bénéficiaires (1) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON Contribution de l’UE € 1 188 594,00 Adresse GOWER STREET WC1E 6BT LONDON Voir sur la carte Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Contact administratif Giles Machell (Mr.) Chercheur principal Vitor Bernardo Bernardes Pinheiro (Dr.) Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée
