Hardware

Our Arduino starter kits arrived! Make an LED blink. that’s how it begins.

Molecular Toolbox

CRISPR-Cas9 induced PEX10knockout

Y. lipolytica PO1f genome sequence was annotated and protospacer for targeting PEX10 was designed and ordered from IDT. Protospacer for Gibson Assembly with CRISPRyl plasmid (Addgene plasmid #70007) SCR1'- tRNAGly (bold), Protospacer (underlined), sgRNA (italic) 5'-GGGTCGGCGCAGGTTGACGTGTACAAGGAGGAGCTGGAGAGTTTTAGAGCTAGAAATAGC-3' Oligos designed to amplify a 1kb region upstream and downstream PEX10 and anneal together by fusion PCR were also ordered from IDT.

CRISPR-Cas9 induced URA3insertion

The Y. lipolytica PO1f genome sequence was annotated and uploaded to Benchling for sgRNA design. sgRNAs targeting the SUC2 gene were designed. Primers were designed that amplify the functional URA3 gene including 1 kb upstream and downstream flanking regions.

pSB1A8YL

Ran a bunch of PCRs to amplify the pUC19 part of our plasmid, but it’s not working - nothing but smear. Tried to transform the pUC19 plasmid into Escherichia coli.

Substrates

We did an initial experiment determining the full growth cycle of Y. lipolytica W29. This will be used to plan and time the following growth experiments. Waste glycerol from the industrial biodiesel producer DAKA is acquired for late screening.

Hardware

We started building light sensors using photoresistors. Shortlisting ideas for our final project: - A microtiter plate reader - Hack a printer to build a membrane homogenizer - Chemostat bioreactor

Molecular Toolbox

CRISPR-Cas9 induced PEX10knockout

Genomic DNA from Y. lipolytica PO1f Δku70 and Y. lipolytica W29 was purified. PEX10 flanking regions were successfully amplified from Y. lipolytica PO1f Δku70.

CRISPR-Cas9 induced URA3insertion

Genomic DNA from Y. lipolytica PO1f Δku70 and Y. lipolytica W29 was purified. - PCR attempts to amplify URA3 and flanks failed. - sgRNAs targeting the SUC2 gene were hybridized.

pSB1A8YL

Purified the plasmid from the transformants and use this as template for PCR, although it’s still not giving any bands.

Substrates

We did initial growth experiments on minimal media with an array of different carbon sources. This experiment was discarded due to lack of repeats and wrong vitamin solution for minimal media. Waste from canola oil production by Grønninggaard is acquired. Molasses from Dansukker sugar production is acquired.

Hardware

Exploring the Arduino IDE and all the electronic components we ordered. There is so much to learn.

Molecular Toolbox

CRISPR-Cas9 induced URA3insertion

PCR attempts to amplify URA3 + flanks from Y. lipolytica W29 genomic DNA failed. New primers were ordered.

pSB1A8YL

We realized that the name of the primer had been mixed up! Now that the right primers are used, we get excellent bands on our gel… Guess you have to make the stupid mistakes in the beginning? The gBlock containing the other part of the plasmid also arrived. This also gives excellent bands on the gel when amplifying it by PCR. Ran the first USER and transformed E. coli cells. The transformants were left on the bench over the weekend

Substrates

We have data from the first successful growth experiment. Starch, Xylose, Arabinose, Maltose and Lactose are not suitable for Y. lipolytica fermentation. This will be repeated next week to make sure. Waste glycerol from the industrial biodiesel producer Perstop is acquired.

Molecular Toolbox

CRISPR-Cas9 induced PEX10knockout

Received CRISPRyl plasmid (Addgene plasmid #70007). The procedure from Addgene was followed.

CRISPR-Cas9 induced URA3insertion

Successful amplification of URA3 + flanks from Y. lipolytica W29 genomic DNA. Because of low quality of the genomic DNA, the initial PCR product was taken for further amplification. Received CRISPRyl plasmid (Addgene plasmid #70007). The procedure from Addgene was followed.

pSB1A8YL

YES, colonies! colonies were picked and used for colony PCR, but it was not successful. We’ll just have to crank on! - Colonies from the same plates were re streaked and plasmids were purified from the resulting colonies. - Restriction analysis yielded weird bands. - This week passes restreaking colonies to yield pure colonies and trying to find the correct transformants through by purifying the plasmids and subjecting it to analytical digestion. So far no luck!

Substrates

Repeated positive results with growth on glucose, glycerol, fructose, sucrose and oil. Y. lipolytica should not be able to grow on sucrose. The experiments on starch, xylose, arabinose, Maltose and Lactose are still negative for Y. lipolytica. Waste glycerol from the industrial biodiesel producer Emmelev is acquired.

Genome Scale Modeling

Planning of Genome-scale modelling strategies began, decided to attempt media optimization using phenotype phase plane, team starts to research and learn FBA for GSM.

Software

Initiation of task by designing the workflow needed to achieve the final purpose of the software. Tasks agreed upon discussion : script in python , number and format proxy of the input files needed , restriction site implementation , development GUI, gui library for python (tkinter)

Hardware

Still playing.

Molecular Toolbox

CRISPR-Cas9 induced PEX10knockout

Purification of pCRISPRyl plasmid from O/N cultures. Successful digestion of CRISPRyl plasmid with restriction enzymes AatII and NdeI to verify the plasmid. Gibson Assembly of digested CRISPRyl plasmid and protospacers.

CRISPR-Cas9 induced URA3insertion

Purification of pCRISPRyl. Successful restriction analysis of pCRISPRyl with AatII and NdeI to verify the plasmid. Gibson assembly of pCRISPRyl and the hybridized sgRNAs targeting the SUC2 gene.

pSB1A8YL

YES! finally a construct that seems to have the correct length! Both the analytical digestion and PCRs seems to confirm our construct. The construct was also sent for sequencing. We spent some time trying to figure out how to test the plasmid. We ended up retrieving the BBa_K592009, BBa_K592010, BBa_E1010 and BBa_J23110 parts from the distribution kit, and pair them. The idea is that if we are able to make a construct in our backbone, we should see a visual output. Unfortunately we were not able to retrieve the BBa_K592010 from the distribution kit, and it was decided to leave this for now.

Substrates

Contamination of experiments was determined with microscopi. Might come from the minimal media being contaminated. First test on complex glycerol based media. Y. lipolytica seems to grow better than Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The growth form on different C-sources is analysed with microscopi. There seem to be different amounts of planktonic and filamentous growth depending on energy source.