The vector design team is looking towards alternatives for the detection portion of our genetic circuit. The current system is flawed in that it identifies and marks when cholesterol in the system is low. This is counterintuitive because we would then be lowering cholesterol, when already low. Our team is researching how we can flip or invert the detection. Once we identify a plausible method to do so, we will be designing our detection circuit and partnering with the regulatory response subteam to develop Vector 3. This just brings us one step closer to our final goal of identifying high cholesterol, then deploying siRNA to inhibit its synthesis.
The wet lab team is working to establish three stable cell lines transfected with the V2 vector at low, standard, and high cholesterol levels. Once established, these cell lines will be used to validate the function of the SRE promoter within the V2 vector using the dual luciferase assay. We need to confirm that our engineered SRE promoter responds to changes in cholesterol levels. Furthermore, we need to determine what cholesterol conditions activate the promoter.
The regulatory response team are trying to validate siRNA sequences that are designed for potential enzyme targets involved in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway to determine each sequence's target affinity for its corresponding mRNA sequence of the enzyme of interest. These siRNAs will then be incorporated into a plasmid vector. The goal is to inhibit cholesterol production through knockdown of the transcription of one or more enzymes catalyzing cholesterol synthesis.
The PR team has been tasked with coordinating all publicity related efforts for team IITChicago. Their efforts include creation of the team's project promotion video, presentation video, sponsorship coordination, and wiki design.