Title: An attempt to reveal a role of a transcription/translation feedback loop in the cyanobacterial KaiC protein-based circadian system by using a semi-synthetic method

Authors: Hirokazu Tozaki, Taiichiro Kobe, Kazuyuki Aihara, Hideo Iwasaki

Addresses: ERATO Aihara Complexity Modelling Project, JST, 3-23-5 Uehara, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-0064, Japan; Department of Electrical Engineering and Bioscience, Waseda University, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan; Bio-Mimetic Control Research Center, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, RIKEN, 2271-130 Anagahora, Shimoshidami, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 463-0003, Japan. ' Department of Electrical Engineering and Bioscience, Waseda University, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan. ' ERATO Aihara Complexity Modelling Project, JST, 3-23-5 Uehara, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-0064, Japan; Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan. ' Department of Electrical Engineering and Bioscience, Waseda University; and PRESTO, Japan Science & Technology Agency, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan

Abstract: The use of synthetic biology to design artificial gene circuits is an important approach for understanding the principles underlying the complicated dynamic behaviours of biomolecular networks, such as genetic switching and biological rhythms. The synthetic approach is also useful in systems biology in that it can be used to create artificial bypasses for processes related to cellular phenomena of interest for their easier analysis. To validate the role of transcription feedback in the cyanobacterial circadian system, we propose an experimental design for a |semi-synthetic| approach that involves transplantation of the kaiABC genes into Escherichia coli and the construction of chimeric transcriptional outputs. The design principle and preliminary results are discussed.

Keywords: transcription feedback; cyanobacterial circadian system; circadian clock; circadian rhythms; Escherichia coli; KaiC; OmpC; SasA; synthetic biology; E. coli; bioinformatics; experimental design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBRA.2008.021178

International Journal of Bioinformatics Research and Applications, 2008 Vol.4 No.4, pp.435 - 444

Published online: 08 Nov 2008 *

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