Making machines from yeast
12 April 2012
Imperial scientists are one step closer to making more complex microscopic biological machines, following improvements in the way that they can ‘rewire’ DNA in yeast, according to research published in the journal PLoS ONE on 16 March.
The researchers, from the Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation and the Department of Bioengineering, have demonstrated a way of creating a new type of biological ‘wire’, using proteins that interact with DNA and behave like wires in electronic circuitry. The scientists say the advantage of their new biological wire is that it can be reengineered over and over again to create potentially billions of connections between DNA components. Previously, scientists have had a limited number of wires available with which to link DNA components in biological machines, restricting the complexity that could be achieved.
The team has also developed more of the key DNA components needed for reprogramming yeast to perform different tasks. Scientists currently have a limited catalogue of components from which to engineer biological machines.
Future applications of this work could include tiny yeast-based machines that can be dropped into water supplies to detect contaminants, and yeast that records environmental conditions during the manufacture of biofuels to determine if improvements can be made to the production process.
Dr Tom Ellis, senior author of the paper, (Bioengineering) says: “From viticulture to making bread, humans have been working with yeast for thousands of years to enhance society. Excitingly, our work is taking us closer to developing more complex biological machines with yeast. These tiny biological machines could help to improve things such as pollution monitoring and cleaner fuels, which could make a difference in all our lives.”
Read the full press release here
— Colin Smith, Communications and Development
Tags: Bioengineering, Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation
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