Biological systems input-output response system and plant sentinels

摘要

A eukaryotic input circuit: computationally designed receptors, synthetic eukaryotic signal transduction pathways, and a synthetic signal sensitive promoter that allow highly specific transcriptional induction in response to an externally provided ligand is disclosed. The input circuit is able to specifically bind a targeted substance and transmit a signal to the nucleus where transcription of a gene is activated. An output circuit serves as a simple readout system of the substance detected by the input circuit. The readout circuit exemplified here is a degreening circuit which causes plants to turn white. Activation of the degreening circuit can be detected by eye, or remotely with a variety of machines (hand-held, aircraft or satellite based) and is also resettable. When linked the input circuit if operably linked to the output circuit, produces a functional plant detector.

主权项

1. A plant cell comprising:
a first DNA construct comprising a first promoter functional in a plant operably linked to a recombinant nucleic acid encoding a first repressor; a second DNA construct comprising a second promoter functional in a plant operably linked to a nucleic acid encoding a detectable marker or response gene, wherein said second promoter is repressible by a second repressor, and a third DNA construct comprising a third promoter functional in a plant operably linked to a nucleic acid encoding said first repressor; wherein said third promoter is constitutive and repressible by said second repressor, wherein said first repressor or second repressor comprise at least one EAR1 or EAR 2 repressor domain.