Development of Gene Regulatory Models for Accurate Prediction of Bioprocess Growth Kinetics
The group is assisting Professor Mantalaris in his research to develop extensive descriptions of dynamic molecular processes in cellular systems, during biodegradation of industrial pollutants, and presentation of these processes in the form of mathematical models. We have developed dynamic descriptions of gene regulation in the TOL and ortho-cleavage pathways employed by P. putida mt-2 for degradation of m-xylene and toluene, while the specific models have been used to substantially improve the prediction of bioprocess kinetics. The framework developed has achieved enormous progress in the field compared to common microbial growth kinetic models and demonstrated for the first time model-based control of gene expression constituting a first step towards natural genetic control.