SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE GENE EXPRESSION ACCORDING TO THE LIGHT AND OXYGEN IN PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIA.

摘要

The present invention refers to two genetic control systems based on the regulation of R. sphaeroides for the production of biofuels, such as biodiesel and/or butanol. The present invention refers to the design of systems intended to regulate the expression of genes used in non-sulphurous photosynthetic purple bacteria, which may be controlled by the concentration of oxygen and the intensity of the light striking the surface of cultures of such bacteria once they are transformed with the inventive system. These two systems were tested in R. palustris and R. sphaeroides, using a vector in which a reporter gene is regulated by external conditions that activate or restrict the expression of the same. Once the operation of these networks has been characterized, it is possible to use the expression systems of the present invention for controlling the production of different metabolites, such as biodiesel and/or butanol, through the use of simple signals such as light and oxygen.