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NitroBLAST as a foundation for novel nitrogen fixation research

Transplanting a nitroplast from its host into other cells is a gigantic undertaking, but one that has similarly massive potential for breakthrough advancements in engineering living organisms. We aim to start a line of research aimed at this very goal, and to this end have left behind registered parts, drylab resources and software as well as our combined knowledge and understanding of the nitroplast and its relation to its host.

Characterization of the UCYN-A transit peptide

From proteome data released this year, we were able to elucidate motifs corresponding to the sequence of a transit peptide localizing proteins to UCYN-A. This protein, submitted as a part, is crucial for any future experiment aiming to deliver proteins to UCYN-A, whether in its native host to investigate its behavior or within a foreign recipient cell, when trying to keep a transplanted nitroplast alive.

New assembly of Braadurosphera bigelowii's transcriptome and proteome prediction

note to self ask balint

Isolation of UCYN-A from Braadurosphera bigelowii and transplantation

We have established a protocol for UCYN-A insertion onto animal and plant cells through PEG fusion.

Model and roadmap

The team has identified, through research and correspondence with experts, the core requirements needed in the future for a viable transplant of a nitroplast into foreign cells; These steps can be broken up in self-contained modules to be tackled individually, and when each of them is achieved nitrogen-fixing eukaryotes will truly be on the horizon. In addition, we have created a model to quantify the nitrogen-fixation capability of a hypothetical nitroplast recipient, based on the involved metabolic networks.

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