Result
Our lab experience enabled us to create the final Biobrocks of our project which are a siderophore Desferrioxamine B producer and a flagellin producer.
Mobilisation result
Proof of protein production
We investigated if the FliC protein was well produced by our biobrick using SDS PAGE.
To to do this we performed SDS PAGE and stained with coomassie blue using cells containing this biobrick in plasmid backbone SDS page and coomassie blue.
From an over night starter, cells were diluted and grown from Abs(600nm)=0.2 to Abs(600nm)=0.6.
Then 1UOD of cells (1.67ml at 0.6OD) was collected and centrifuged at 5000g for 5min.
After removal of the supernatant, the cell pellet was resuspended in 50µL SDS-PAGE sample buffer.
SDS page and coomassie blue The mixture was loaded onto a polyacrylamide gel and migrated during 50min at 180V.
Staining was done using coomassie blue.
The FliC is at mass 51,3kDa, and can be clearly seen in the gel photograph.
Proof of fonctionnality
We investigated if DesA (Lysine decarboxylase) was fonctionnal, by measurement of cadaverine using HPLC with C18 column and proofed our biobrick is a producer of this protein and makes it fonctionnal.
On the right, we tested the protein production using a SDS page and comassie in a Escherichia coli Tg1 strain after transformation with Bba_K1951011. On the right column, it has been observed the protein production without induction with 0.02% arabinose. On the left column, protein production was tested after induction. Results showed the production of the 4 proteins DesA, DesB, DesC and DesD, all involved in the desferrioxamine biosynthesis pathway. On the left, we had a look of the cadaverine production by the lysine decarboxylase DesA. Production has been detected by HPLC using C18 column after induction of the strain. Escherichia coli Tg1 strain was used as a wild type. Cadaverine production has been detected in this strain. In a Tg1 cadA mutant, cadaverine was also produced in a least quantity showing that an other pathway is responsible for the production of cadaverine. In the cadA mutant complemented by Bba_K1951004, the amount of cadaverine was recovered and even beyond the wild type production. Moreover, in the cadA mutant complemented by Bba_K1951011, the cadaverine level produced was even over the wild type and complemented Bba_K1951004 production
In the futur
We plan to test the whole pathway viability in the first hand. In a second hand, the potential adsorption of platium by our siderophore would be investigate in a rich metal medium.
Biosorption result
Proof of swimming recovery
We have made a biobrick BbaK1951008 ables to produce Flagellin (FliC protein of the flagellum). In the aim to test the flagellin integrity, we made a fliC mutant in a E.coli W3110 strain by transduction using phage P1 (protocol available on our website).
In the figure the deletion mutant (lower left sector) shows no swimming motility as expected and a small white colony.
In contrast the wild-type colony (lower right) has a diffuse halo due to swimming cells around the central white colony.
Finally the complemented strain, the deletion mutant complemented with our biobrick, (top panel) shows two colonies with intense
halos surrounding them.
This illustrated clearly that our biobrick can restore motility and is functional.
The intensity of the halo suggests that a greater proportion of the cells are mobile or swimming is in someway better than the wild-type.
We investigated if swimming motility was recovered by a knockout FliC strain. To test complementation with our biobrick strains were stabbed into soft (Claire check 0.5%) LB agar plates, and incubated at 37°C for 4 hours. Three strains are shown: Escherichia coli W3110 wild-type strain, which has a good swimming capacity (lower right); a fliC deletion mutant of W3110 (lower left); and the fliC mutant complemented with BBa_K1951008(top).
Microscopie of the flagellum
We analysed the fliC mutant complemented by BbaK1951008 using electronic microscopy. This tools allowed us to observe the flagellum integrity recovered and to obtain phenotypic image of our work.
In the futur
We plan to make a proof of concept of the platinum absorption to the surface of the flagellin. In a second time, we want to finish the insertion of the restriction site to allow the cassette insertion ( peptide absorbing specifically precious metal) and test their affinity.
Improvement of FliC E. coli [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1463604 BBa_K1463604]
This biobrick is an improvement on the biobrick designed by the Glasgow 2014 team. [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1463604 K1463604]
The improvement of this part is multiple.
- First there is no mutation in the promotor or RBS of our part so the flagellin is well expressed and functional. Unfortunately when the Glasgow team trie to make this part they picked up a mutation in the promotor.
- Second the sequence that we have used it a synthetic gene with codon optimisation, designed specifically for high level expression in E.coli. Thus as an expression part is improved over the initial design.
- Third in the functional swimming assay, we see evidence for improved swimming (denser halo), in cells expressing our biobrick, a phenotype not observed by the Glasgow team in 2014.
Project achievement in a table
Futur plan for our project
Now that every biobricks have been created and are available, make proofs of concept could allow to envisage investigation about possibilities of an industrial application.
The biologic production of high and specific adsorber could reduce environnemental impact of the metal production and its cost while renew essential precious metals like platinum, for a sustainable production.
