Computational colloids: Engineered bacteria as computational agents in the design and manufacture of new materials and structures

I will introduce an EPSRC founded project involving civil engineers, molecular biologists and architects. Our overall aim is to create a bio-based system to strengthen soils in response to mechanical forces. In my talk, I will present the molecular biology lab-work developed at CBCB. We used Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 as model organism to perform whole transcriptome analysis on cells exposed to pressure at 1 MPa (RNA-seq). In silico investigation led us to select potential targets to study. Selected gene promoters were cloned upstream of reporter gene (lacZ) to assess sensitivity to pressure through beta-galactosidase production. We are also using qRT-PCR experiments to compare gene expression of pressure sensitive targets at different growth phase. This will provide a better insight into pressure sensing response of our chosen E. coli targets.