Difference between revisions of "Team:UMaryland/Description"

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<h1> Hok/Sok </h1>
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Antibiotic resistance is a necessary selection factor for transgenic bacteria using plasmids as vectors. This staple of genetic engineering has been met with opposition with valid claims that the addition of antibiotics to the environment harms native species and poses a risk to unwanted antibiotic resistance through lateral gene transfer.
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The Hok/Sok system has naturally evolved in bacteria as a means of plasmid retention, and is capable of addressing the issue by providing a selection factor for plasmid retention without the dangers of antibiotics and risk of lateral gene transfer. The Hok (host killing) gene codes for a mRNA which lies dormant in its initial secondary structure. As it is degraded by exonuclease, it assumes a translatable secondary structure which produces an apoptosis triggering protein. The Sok (suppression of killing) gene codes for a mRNA transcript that binds to the Hok mRNA, preventing it from being translated. The complex is eventually degraded by nuclease. Hok has a half life of 20 minutes, while Sok has a half life of 30 seconds. As long as both genes are present, the cell remains alive. After cell division, should the cell not retain the plasmid of interest which contains Hok/Sok, Hok mRNA remains the cytoplasm for 20 minutes, while remaining Sok is degraded. Since the cell does not contain a Sok gene, no Sok is being produced to save the cell from being killed by Hok. This system is very similar to current antibiotic resistance systems, only without the necessity for antibiotics themselves, resolving the issue of environmentally safe plasmid retention.
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<h3>ELI5:</h3>
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<p>When scientists change the DNA of bacteria, the bacteria don't like it and want to go back to normal. To force the bacteria to stay changed, scientists add antibiotics (the same ones you take when you're sick). Adding a lot of antibiotics can cause problems, like other bacteria getting sick and the bad DNA spreading (which we don't want). To make sure the bacteria stay changed WITHOUT using antibiotics, we developed Hok/Sok. It works the same as antibiotics does. If the bacteria tries to go back to normal, it dies. If the bacteria stays changed, it lives. The only difference between this system and antibiotics is 0% antibiotics are used.
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<p>When people get old, some of them slowly lose their sight, like in the picture below. They will soon become blind. People can take a medicine called lutein to help treat their eyes and prevent the problem from getting worse. Right now, lutein is made from flowers. We want to find a cleaner and cheaper way to make lutein using 100% safe E. Coli. To do this, we will take DNA from plants that make lutein, and put that DNA into the E. Coli. Since there are many complicated chemicals involved, this task is not easy.
 
<p>When people get old, some of them slowly lose their sight, like in the picture below. They will soon become blind. People can take a medicine called lutein to help treat their eyes and prevent the problem from getting worse. Right now, lutein is made from flowers. We want to find a cleaner and cheaper way to make lutein using 100% safe E. Coli. To do this, we will take DNA from plants that make lutein, and put that DNA into the E. Coli. Since there are many complicated chemicals involved, this task is not easy.
  
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<br>
 
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<a name = "Hok">
 
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<h1> Hok/Sok </h1>
 
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</a>
 
  
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<p>
 
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Antibiotic resistance is a necessary selection factor for transgenic bacteria using plasmids as vectors. This staple of genetic engineering has been met with opposition with valid claims that the addition of antibiotics to the environment harms native species and poses a risk to unwanted antibiotic resistance through lateral gene transfer.
 
−
<p>
 
−
The Hok/Sok system has naturally evolved in bacteria as a means of plasmid retention, and is capable of addressing the issue by providing a selection factor for plasmid retention without the dangers of antibiotics and risk of lateral gene transfer. The Hok (host killing) gene codes for a mRNA which lies dormant in its initial secondary structure. As it is degraded by exonuclease, it assumes a translatable secondary structure which produces an apoptosis triggering protein. The Sok (suppression of killing) gene codes for a mRNA transcript that binds to the Hok mRNA, preventing it from being translated. The complex is eventually degraded by nuclease. Hok has a half life of 20 minutes, while Sok has a half life of 30 seconds. As long as both genes are present, the cell remains alive. After cell division, should the cell not retain the plasmid of interest which contains Hok/Sok, Hok mRNA remains the cytoplasm for 20 minutes, while remaining Sok is degraded. Since the cell does not contain a Sok gene, no Sok is being produced to save the cell from being killed by Hok. This system is very similar to current antibiotic resistance systems, only without the necessity for antibiotics themselves, resolving the issue of environmentally safe plasmid retention.
 
−
<br>
 
−
<h3>ELI5:</h3>
 
−
<p>When scientists change the DNA of bacteria, the bacteria don't like it and want to go back to normal. To force the bacteria to stay changed, scientists add antibiotics (the same ones you take when you're sick). Adding a lot of antibiotics can cause problems, like other bacteria getting sick and the bad DNA spreading (which we don't want). To make sure the bacteria stay changed WITHOUT using antibiotics, we developed Hok/Sok. It works the same as antibiotics does. If the bacteria tries to go back to normal, it dies. If the bacteria stays changed, it lives. The only difference between this system and antibiotics is 0% antibiotics are used.
 
  
 
</div>
 
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Revision as of 02:48, 17 August 2015