The main directions of our research are:
(1) in vitro reconstruction of the transcription and translation apparatuses.
(2) minimization of the in vitro protein decoding apparatus.
(3) coupling energy regeneration to in vitro growth and replication.
1. Self-Replicating Transcription and Translation Apparatuses
The goal of this research area is to better understand how factors required for replication, transcription, and translation work in synergy to enable ensemble autocatalysis in living systems.
We will engineer cell-free gene circuits expressing these factors and study their populational persistence, evolvability, and variability.
2. Self-Replicating Minimal Genetic Decoding System
We will engineer and study cell-free self-replicating gene circuits expressing factors for genetic decoding (tRNAs and amino acyl-tRNA synthetases). tRNA will be co-evolved with corresponding aminoacyl tRNA synthetases toward reduced or removed reliance on modification enzymes, and thus towards minimization of the genetic code apparatus.
3. Energy Regeneration
To better understand how energy regeneration is coupled to a living system’s growth and reproduction, gene circuits expressing factors for energy regeneration systems (e.g. components of ATP synthase) will be engineered. We will study their persistence, evolvability, and variability.