Project B.A.T.M.A.N.

(Biosynthetic Applications of Toehold switches - miRNAs and nonsmall cell lung cancer)

Project Abstract

We have set out to design a cheap and minimally invasive method to measure the concentration of circulatory micro-RNAS (miRNAs), which act as early biomarkers for a multitude of diseases (Etheridge et al., 2011). We aim to do this using toehold switches, a type of artificial riboregulators that control the translation of reporter protein (Green et al., 2014), to determine the concentration of miRNAs and a fluorometer to quantify the fluorescence from the genetic circuits containing the toehold switches. Each switch will be specific to a particular miRNA, allowing us to create a multiplexing assay, to detect numerous miRNAS in one system. By measuring the concentration of several different miRNAs, all of which are biomarkers for a certain disease, we can create a specific diagnostic tool. To establish the proof of principle we have designed a model system for the easy detection of non-small cell lung cancer (Hennessey et al., 2012). Non-small cell lung cancer is the biggest killer of all the cancers in the world. Around 85% of all lung cancer cases are non-small lung cancer and it is estimated that there will be around 222,500 new cases of lung cancer and around 155,870 deaths from lung cancer in 2017 in the United States alone (Key Statistics for Lung Cancer, 2017). In cases of NSCLC, miR-15b-5p is deregulated and miR-27b-3p is downregulated and a measurement of both has been shown to be a potent diagnostic tool for NSCLC (Hennessey et al, 2012). We therefore think it is an appropriate disease to start with as a proof of concept, for using a toehold switch in conjunction with a fluorometer, to measure serum miRNA concentrations.

Collaboration

We'd love to work with other iGEM teams - come and say hi to us on Twitter, or email igem@cityoflondonschool.org.uk.