Difference between revisions of "Team:Lambert GA"

How purple is this?

Scientists around the world struggle with questions regarding chromoprotein expression, specifically in regards to their use in biosensors. Biosensors are often seen as low-cost alternatives to expensive detection equipment for underfunded labs and field work. Lambert iGEM was inspired to address the problem of quantifying chromoprotein expression through development of an 3-D printed original device- Chrome-Q, software app and verification with a chromoprotein genetic circuit. Additionally, samples were prepared on Prakash Lab’s 3-D printed fuge to investigate the viability of using a low-cost centrifuge to process cells for visualization.
Quantifying color relies on measures of Red, Green, Blue (RGB) values and evaluating them in a color space known as Hue, Saturation and Value (HSV). Another consideration for color quantification is standardization of environmental light. To achieve this a device, the Chrome-Q, was developed to create a standardized environment for capturing images using Android and Apple mobile device cameras. Self-developed android software evaluates the images in the HSV color space resulting in HSV values. These HSV values can be normalized for cell density through subsequent serial dilutions of the cultures and plating to count Colony Forming Units (CFU).

Throughout the development of the Chrome-Q engineering design principles were implemented. Feedback and resulting changes were implemented into the next iteration. Five different prototypes led to the final development of two designs optimized for both Android and Apple mobile devices. The Android software was written in C#. The Chrome-Q stl files and software are available on other pages and are open source.
The device and software were then used to quantify data of ATUM’s Protein Paintbox proteins Tinsel Purple, Scrooge Orange and Virginia Violet under varying levels of IPTG induction. An assembled genetic circuit of: Promoter- R0040, Ribosomal Binding Site B0034, and Tinsel purple (Tspurple)- (BBa_K1033906) (Uppsala 2013) was constructed to use in conjunction with a Protease mechanism of ClpXP. ClpXP is a protein complex comprised of two parts. ClpX recognizes an SsrA tag sequence at the end of a protein linearizes the tagged protein and brings it to ClpP. ClpP is an ATPase and cleaves the primary peptide bonds resulting in degradation of the original protein into individual amino acids. This demonstrated the usefulness of the 3-D fuge and Chrome-Q system as a replacement for fluorescent plate readers and centrifuges.

In the development of genetic circuits, researchers often face issues with the overlap of protein expression. As a result, the

Who We Are

We are comprised of 14 high school students from Suwanee, Georgia in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. We are an after-school/before-school club that meets simply for the love of synthetic biology.

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Our Project

As an underfunded lab, our project aimed to reduce costs of lab work. While characterizing non-lysosomal inducible protein degradation, we developed the Chrome-Q to quantify the degradation of protein.

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Human Practices

This past year, we have performed a variety of human practices, to educate the public about synthetic biology, as well as our project, through multiple outreach events, including the Maker Faire in Atlanta.

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Medal Criteria

Bronze

Requirements	Checklist	Explanation
Register and Attend	Maria Anders	Yes
Deliverable	Francisco Chang	Yes
Attributions	Roland Mendel	Yes, click HERE for more information.
Interlab Study	Helen Bennett	Yes, click HERE for more information.