SBIR Phase I: A Synthetic Biology Design-Build-Test Platform for Automated Combinatorial DNA Assembly

SBIR 第一阶段：用于自动化组合 DNA 组装的合成生物学设计-构建-测试平台

• 批准号: 1215583
• 负责人: Michael Fero
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: TeselaGen Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-07-01 至 2013-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1215583&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Synthetic; Biology; Design

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to develop a software technology that comprises a rapid screening and functional testing system for Synthetic Biology. Wedding recent advances in DNA assembly methods, and the software algorithms used to design those DNA assemblies, the goal is to create an easy-to-use platform for assembling complex DNA constructs, transfecting them into host microbes, and doing a rapid assessment of their function. The proposed technology is a foundational tool that will facilitate construction of complex DNA assemblies and combinatorial libraries, allowing scientists to direct their resources to conducting experiments that address primary issues.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be to accelerate the pace of microbe development for companies and organizations that develop valuable proteins, advanced enzymes for industry, or therapeutic medicines. DNA cloning is an everyday practice in the course of both industrial- and university-based research. Cloning technology as has remained largely unchanged for the last 20 years. As a consequence, researchers waste time and money designing and constructing DNA, which could be applied to designing and conducting experiments. Over the past few years, standardized experimental DNA construction methods have been developed that lend themselves well to automation and rapid assembly of DNA. Process automation is progressing from luxury to necessity, as target applications demand the fabrication of large combinatorial DNA libraries in the search for better antibodies, faster enzymes, and more productive microbial strains. After the construction of the DNA libraries, screening these libraries for constructs with the desired activities remains a bottleneck, both in terms of cost and time. The proposed technology will allow rapid prototyping and characterization of forward engineered biological libraries of recombinant DNA, proteins or whole cells. The commercial availability of this technology will provide a low cost alternative to current methods.

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目建议开发一种软件技术，包括合成生物学的快速筛选和功能测试系统。结合DNA组装方法的最新进展，以及用于设计这些DNA组装的软件算法，目标是创建一个易于使用的平台，用于组装复杂的DNA结构，将它们转染到宿主微生物中，并对其功能进行快速评估。所提出的技术是一种基础工具，将促进复杂DNA组装和组合文库的构建，使科学家能够将他们的资源用于进行解决主要问题的实验。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是加快开发有价值蛋白质、工业先进酶或治疗药物的公司和组织的微生物开发步伐。DNA克隆是工业和大学基础研究过程中的日常实践。克隆技术在过去的20年里基本上没有改变。因此，研究人员浪费时间和金钱来设计和构建DNA，而这些DNA可以用于设计和进行实验。在过去的几年中，标准化的实验DNA构建方法已经开发出来，这些方法可以很好地实现DNA的自动化和快速组装。过程自动化正在从奢侈品发展到必需品，因为目标应用需要制造大型组合DNA文库，以寻找更好的抗体，更快的酶和更多产的微生物菌株。在构建DNA文库之后，筛选这些文库中具有所需活性的构建体仍然是一个瓶颈，无论是在成本还是时间方面。该技术将允许对重组DNA、蛋白质或整个细胞的正向工程生物文库进行快速原型设计和表征。该技术的商业化将为现有方法提供一种低成本的替代方案。