Team:Glasgow/Project/Overview/Protocols
E. coli strains
TOP10: • F- mcrA Δ(mrr-hsdRMS-mcrBC) φ80lacZΔM15 ΔlacX74 nupG recA1 araD139 Δ(ara-leu)7697 galE15 galK16 rpsL(StrR) endA1 λ- • Used for cloning of unmethylated DNA (such as from the distribution plate, or DNA synthesised by IDT) DH5α: • F- endA1 glnV44 thi-1 recA1 relA1 gyrA96 deoR nupG Φ80dlacZΔM15 Δ(lacZYA-argF)U169, hsdR17(rK- mK+), λ– • Used for assembly of plasmids, and to methylate DNA from TOP10 in order to transform into DS941 DS941: • an MG1655 derivative • AB1157, recF, lacZM15, lacIq • Used as chassis DS941.Z1: • an MG1655 derivative • AB1157, recF, lacZM15, lacIq • extra copy of TetR and LacI • Used for measurements when extra Lac repressor was required ER2925: • ara-14 leuB6 fhuA31 lacY1 tsx78 glnV44 galK2 galT22 mcrA dcm-6 hisG4 rfbD1 R(zgb210::Tn10)TetS endA1 rpsL136 dam13::Tn9 xylA-5 mtl-1 thi-1 mcrB1 hsdR2 • Used when dam methylation was not required
Preparation of CaCl2 Competent Cells
1. Dilute 400μl of overnight liquid culture into 20ml of broth with any necessary antibiotics to select for any plasmids already transformed into the cells 2. Incubate at 37⁰C, shaking at 225rpm for 90 minutes 3. Spin down for 2 minutes at 7000rpm at 4⁰C 4. Discard supernatant, resuspend pellet in 10ml of 50 mM CaCl2, keep on ice 5. Repeat centrifugation for 2 minutes at 7000rpm at 4⁰C 6. Discard supernatant and the resuspend pellet in 1ml of 50 mM CaCl2, keep on ice 7. CaCl2 competent cells can be kept on ice in the fridge overnight
Transformation of CaCl2 Competent Cells
1. 1μl of plasmid DNA was added to 100μl of competent cells 2. Samples were incubated on ice for 20 minutes 3. Heat shock was cried out at 37⁰C for 5 minutes 4. Cells were kept on ice for 2 minutes 5. 200μl of broth was added and the cells incubated at 37⁰C for expression step (time varies dependent on antibiotic resistance gene in the plasmid that has just been transformed into the cells): • Chloramphenicol resistance = 90 minutes • Kanamycin resistance = 60 minutes • Ampicillin resistance = 30 minutes 6. 100-200μl of transformed cells was spread on dried L-agar plates with required antibiotic(s) to select for plasmid(s) 7. Plates were incubated at 37°C overnight
Preparation of Electrocompetent Cells
1. Inoculate 400ml L-broth with 4ml culture 2. Incubate at 37⁰C, shaking at 250rpm until mid-log phase (OD600=0.5-0.7) 3. Split culture into 2 x 200ml samples 4. Chill on ice for 20mins • Spin 4000 x g for 15minutes at 40C 5. Re-suspend each in 200ml ice cold 10% glycerol • Spin 4000 x g for 15minutes at 40C 6. Re-suspend each in 100ml ice cold 10% glycerol • Spin 4000 x g for 15minutes at 40C 7. Re-suspend each in 10ml ice cold 10% glycerol • Spin 4000 x g for 15minutes at 40C 8. Re-suspend each in 500l ice cold 10% glycerol 9. Aliquot 60l into small eppendorf tubes and store at -700C
Transformation of Electrocompetent Cells
1. Add 1μl of plasmid DNA to 30μl of competent cells 2. Leave on ice for 20 minutes 3. Transfer to pre-cooled electroporation cuvette 4. An electrical pulse was delivered by a Biorad Micropulser and 1ml L-broth immediately added 5. Culture was then transferred to a 2ml nunc tube and incubated at 37⁰C for expression step (time varies dependent on antibiotic resistance gene in the plasmid that has just been transformed into the cells): • Chloramphenicol resistance = 90 minutes • Kanamycin resistance = 60 minutes • Ampicillin resistance = 30 minutes 6. Spread 100-200μl of transformed cells on dried L-agar plates with required antibiotic(s) to select for plasmid(s) 7. Incubate plates at 37°C overnight
Plasmid DNA preparation using Qiagen Miniprep kit
1. Spin down 3-5ml of overnight liquid culture 2. Add 250µl of Buffer P1 and resuspend the cell pellet thoroughly by pipetting up and down - it is important to have no lumps of cells at this stage 3. Add 250µl of Buffer P2 , mix by inverting the tube about 6 times 4. Within less than 5 minutes, add 350µl of Buffer N3 , mix by inverting the tube about 6 times 5. Spin for 10 minutes at 13,000rpm 6. Transfer the supernatant from the eppendorf into a QIAprep column in a 2ml collection tube 7. Spin the column and collection tube for 1 minute at 13,500rpm and discard the flow-through 8. Wash the column by adding 500μl of Buffer PB to the column, and spin for 1 minute at 13,000rpm, discard the flowthrough 9. Wash the column by adding 750μl of Buffer PE to the column, and spin for 1 minute at 13,000rpm, discard the flowthrough, and spin again for 1 minute at 13,500rpm, to get rid of the last traces of PE wash buffer 10. Transfer column to eppendorf, and discard the collection tube 11. Add 50μl of Buffer PE to the column, and leave to stand for 1 minute 12. Spin for 1 minute at 13,000rpm, keep the flowthrough in the eppendorf and discard the column
Restriction Digests
1. A 20μl reaction typically contained: • 2μl of buffer • 4μl* of miniprep (or 8μl G-Block) • Make up to 20μl with ddH20 • 0.5-1.0μl of each restriction enzyme 2. Vortex 3. Incubate at 37⁰C for at least 60 minutes 4. *adjust volume dependant on concentration of miniprep 5. Heat inactivate restriction enzymes