Principal Investigator Christopher Voigt
Project Website http://mit.edu/voigtlab/
The Voigt Lab is developing a basis by which cells can be programmed like robots to perform complex, coordinated tasks for pharmaceutical and industrial applications. We are engineering new sensors that give bacteria the senses of touch, sight, and smell. Genetic circuits — analogous to their electronic counterparts — are built to integrate the signals from the various sensors. Finally, the output of the gene circuits is used to control cellular processes. We are also developing theoretical tools from statistical mechanics and non-linear dynamics to understand how to combine genetic devices and predict their collective behavior. Specific projects include:
(1) A Programming Language for Cells
(2) Engineering Cellular Sensors
(3) Organelle Refactoring and Engineering -- We are engineering multi-gene prokaryotic organelles for applications in biotechnology. Currently, we are focusing on the type III secretion system, which pumps proteins from the cytoplasm, through both membranes, to the extracellular environment. This system is being exploited to deliver heterologous proteins to the growth media. We are also interested in engineering photosynthetic systems to convert sunlight into energetic and specialty chemicals.
(4) Genome-Scale Design
(5) Engineering Unusual Organisms with Unique Capabilities