This year, the Cambridge iGEM team is working towards creating an integrated Bacterial Recombinant Artificial Intelligence Network (iBRAIN). Our concept is to model eukaryotic neural behaviour using populations of bacteria. We are looking at two main aspects of this concept: self-organisation using Turing pattern formation, and synaptic signal transduction using voltage output glutamate detection (More...)
We plan to implement a simple two-component Reaction-Diffusion system in the gram-positive model organism Bacillus subtilis. In 1952, Alan Turing famously described this system and suggested it as the basis for self-organization and pattern formation in biological systems. The simplest of these patterns, which we are planning to model in bacteria, mimic the spots and stripes seen on animal coats. We intend to use two well-characterized bacterial communication systems to generate this behavior. The agr peptide signalling system from S. aureus will serve as our activatory signal (pictured), while the lux system from V. fischeri will serve as our inhibitor. Bacillus subtilis serves as an excellent chassis for this project because of the ease with which chromosomal integration can be performed. This project will focus on a tight integration of modeling and experiment; we will test different promoter strengths and other variables, feed these system parameters into our multi-cell models, and then use those models to tweak the regulatory machinery that will control signal production.
The aim of this project is to work towards an interface between biological and electric systems. We hope to do this by measuring a voltage change due to the presence of a certain substance. In the first instance, this substance will be glutamate, as it acts as a ligand for a prokaryotic gated potassium channel. Our idea is to sequester K+ inside E.coli cells by using leak channel knock-out mutants, and over-expressing K+ influx pumps. Then, when glutamate is present it will open K+ channels, allowing an efflux of potassium and causing a small but measureable change in voltage in the medium.