Team:Technion HS Israel/Project/Results

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Results and disscussions

  • characterize of YFP
  • characterize of YFP
  • characterize of YFP

    In order to understand each module of our system, we started to test and characterize the first part of the genetic circuit. To do so, we built a BioBrick consisting of a constitutive promoter (BBa_I14032) driving expression of LuxR followed by a Lux promoter (BBa_R0062). The Lux promoter is inactive in absence of the AHL-LuxR complex and can be activated when AHL is present. Downstream of the pLux promoter we fused a gene encoding a florescent protein, in this case yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) (see Figure 1A).

    Technion_HS_Israel_pre1

    Scheme of BBa_1767010

    This BioBrick (BBa_1767010) was used as a device that allows to

      (1)determine the functionality of the promoter pLux.

      (2) the formation of the active transcription factor LuxR in presence of AHL.

      (3) compare to a similar BioBrick that contains AiiA (BBa_K1767009).

    The BioBrick that does contain AiiA (LINK!!!), an AHL-inactivating enzyme, is expressed constitutively upstream of LuxR and degrades AHL hence the amount of AHL available for the formation of the active AHL-LuxR complex is limited. Decreasing active AHL-LuxR complexed leads to a reduced activation of the pLux promoter that should be observed in a reduced activation of YFP over time (Figure 1B).

    Technion_HS_Israel_pre1

    Scheme here BBa_K1767009

    In order to test and compare these BioBricks an overnight starter culture of E.coli harboring the plasmids BBa_K1767009 or BBa_K1767010, respectively were diluted in a low-growth, low-autofluorescence buffer (Bioassay buffer, BA; for 1l we added: 0.5 g Tryptone 0.3 ml Glycerol, 5.8 g NaCl, 50 ml 1M MgSo4, 1ml – 10 x PBS and filled it up with 950 ml DDW). 3-oxohexanoyl-homoserine lactone (3OC6-HSL, Sigma Aldrich (#K3007), herewith referred to as AHL) was added ranging from concentrations of 0.1 to 100000 nM and fluorescence measurements were taken every 30 minutes starting 120 min post-induction over range of 8-12 hours.

    Results

    As shown in Figure 2, fluorescence values of each timepoint were normalized by dividing fluorescence intensities by OD, averaged over a period of 90 min and 360 min, respectively, and plotted as a function of increasing inducer/AHL concentration.