iGEM PuiChing-Macau 2023


Carcinogen detectors: building DNA damage biosensors to support cancer prevention


There are millions of new cases of cancer around the world every year. Current research has been focusing mainly on cancer therapy but not prevention. To reduce cases of cancer and prevent cancer, knowledge about carcinogens is necessary. However, current methods to identify the genotoxic agents are time-consuming testing, involving animal testing and the use of many chemicals.

To address this problem, we developed two biosensing systems with DNA repairing mechanisms: (1) Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) systems with ATRIP and RPA1 in human cells, and (2) a RecA-eGFP reporting system in E.coli. We can detect DNA damage by analyzing the binding of ATRIP-EGFP and RPA1-mCherry using FRET. Additionally, we built two RecA promoters with different RBS and tested them with various carcinogens using plate readers and cell imaging.

With these systems, we can screen substances for their potential carcinogenic properties in a cost-effective manner, thereby, helping cancer prevention.