Any genetic circuit engineered in any organism will cause a huge metabolic load on its host, compiling the organism to manufacture numerous proteins against his own benefit thus greatly decreasing its fitness. Random mutations that arise during normal DNA replication or during DNA damage repair dictate that it’s unavoidable outcome that the genetic circuit will undergo mutation that will render it useless. Thus, a major problem related to almost any biotechnological product is its genetic stability.
We suggest an approach and algorithms for solving this problem by coupling the heterologous gene to an endogenous gene. This should easily improve any biotechnological product.
In the project based on the novel experiments (including screening of the evolution of all the genes of yeast fused to two reported proteins) and computational modeling that will produce a novel procedure for: 1) choosing for a given target gene an essential gene that will be fused to it and 2) designing the target gene and the fused genes for maximal functional efficiency and stability of the target gene.

UNMET NEED
Maintaining the genetic stability of a heterologous protein for a long period.

OUR SOLUTION
Coupling the heterologous gene to an endogenous gene. This way the host becomes “addicted” to the heterologous as many of the mutations in the heterologous affect the expression of the endogenous gene and thus decrease the fitness of the host.

APPLICATIONS
Any product or application that includes a heterologous gene!

STATUS
Ready to use in various organisms.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
A patent and know-how.

REFERENCES
1. A generic approach constructing an evolutionary stable genetic circuit via coupling to a endogenous genes. Submitted.
2. https://2020.igem.org/Team:TAU_Israel