EP 31 · 20:48

Dajbog yeast strain — deleting endogenous cyclins to force control

From Optovolution: Teaching Proteins to Think Like Computers

Episode
9/16
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The researchers engineered Dajbog yeast strains so that cell-cycle progression depended on externally controlled cyclin expression. They placed the protein being evolved upstream of that control, connecting its output to the cell's ability to keep dividing. This creates a selection system in which protein behavior has a direct consequence for proliferation.

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20:48So, they created a strain of yeast. The the model organism here is yeast. They they created a strain of yeast called Dajb. This is named after the Slavic sun deity, the god of the sun. And he is in charge of the day and night cycle. Okay. We're going to learn about why it's called day and night cycle because what we're trying to do is use light >> in this entire process. So, that's why they called it dashbog. Okay. Okay. >> Here's the trap that they're setting. When they made dagebog, which is this particular yeast strain, it has end indogenous cyclines, right? That that are there because in it wants to replicate. They deleted them all.

21:30>> Okay. >> Okay. So now this yeast strain is completely dependent on what the researchers give it. >> I see. >> Okay. We've held it hostage and now the starter thing, it doesn't have its own starter. >> We are going to provide the starter. So instead of the grill having the button on it where you can click it and it has the igniter that starts the fire, we remove the battery from that on the grill so the it can't do it. And we're bringing in one of those long lighters ourselves and pointing it but we control when it's going in there. >> Exly. Exactly. And now that lighter, that critical cycl CLB5 that we have, we're going to place it under the control of the protein of interest, the

22:12one that we want to evolve. Yes. Yes. >> Okay. And that protein of interest is going to act as a transcription factor for that cycl. Why is this important? I told you that that cycl is extremely dangerous if it's on all the time. >> Previously, the problem with directed

From the episode
  1. EP 31

    Optovolution: Teaching Proteins to Think Like Computers

    A new EPFL breakthrough uses light and the cell cycle to evolve proteins that can switch, compute, and behave more like software.

    Optovolution: Teaching Proteins to Think Like Computers

Molecular BiologyProtein EngineeringSynthetic BiologyBioengineering