With this synthetic biology project, we aim to transform Escherichia coli to be a detection system for nitrates and nitrites.

Our end goal is to maintain aquatic life in a more cost effective and convenient way. To do this, we plan to transform bacteria to produce purple pigment in the presence of nitrogen compounds (Nitrates and Nitrites). The sensor, PyeaR is highly sensitive to the presence of Nitrites and Nitrates. The promoter protein, NsrR binds with Nitric Oxide, which prevents PyeaR from transcribing downstream DNA. This causes the activation of a reporter protein, chromoprotein. This reporter is a purple chromoprotein based in E-coli. When the PyeaR sensor is enabled, a purple pigment will be released by the bacteria.