(ersten Teil verbessert) |
|||
Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
+ | |||
<div class="contentbox"> | <div class="contentbox"> | ||
<div class="content"> | <div class="content"> | ||
− | <h3> | + | <h3> Short Summary </h3> |
<!-- Normaler Text --> | <!-- Normaler Text --> | ||
<article> | <article> | ||
− | + | Will be added soon | |
</article> | </article> | ||
Line 27: | Line 28: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
+ | |||
<div class="contentbox"> | <div class="contentbox"> | ||
<div class="content"> | <div class="content"> | ||
− | <h3> | + | <h3> Usage of the Data Generated by the Trinity Assembly </h3> |
<!-- Normaler Text --> | <!-- Normaler Text --> | ||
<article> | <article> | ||
− | The synthesis of purine bases is | + | Having generated all sequences through the trinity assembly, we discovered a lot of interesting genes and functions that could possibly be found within <i>L. croton tiglium</i>. After we figured out their sequences by using different databases like uniprot, we used <a href="https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi">BLAST</a> to identify them within all the trinity sequences. Out of these, we identified some that play an interesting role in the purine pathway and some others that are responsible for the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases. These are of interest as they could be used as a combinatorical olfactorical reporter in combination with carotenoid-producing parts for future iGEM teams. |
+ | |||
+ | </article> | ||
+ | |||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="contentbox"> | ||
+ | <div class="content"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <h3> Identification of Candidate Genes </h3> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | <!-- Normaler Text --> | ||
+ | <article> | ||
+ | The synthesis of purine bases is a paramount aspect for the creation of bases. As already described and explained at [UBP Overview], different reactions are needed for the creation of the final products (GMP and AMP). Moreover, there are also many reactions that are needed for the organism to work, as well as for the catalysis of side-products which are important for additional reactions. Further examination of the enzyme reactions of the purine metabolism allowed us to figure out some that might be of specific interest for the incorporation and creation of unnatural bases in <i>L. croton tiglium</i>. | ||
+ | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
− | + | Firstly, there is the guanosine monophosphate synthetases (GMPS), an enzyme from the class of ligases that form carbon-nitrogen-bonds with glutamine as an amido-N-donor. It is also known as Guanosine monophosphate synthetase and is abbreviated with guaA. GMPS is important for us since it is needed for the amination of XMP (xanthosine monophosphate) to create GMP and possibly iso-GMP. Besides , GMPS can be found in many organisms apart from <i>L. Croton tiglium</i>, including <i>H. sapiens</i> and <i>E.coli</i>. Comparing the found sequences of the GMPS with the trinity assembly allowed us to figure out two slightly different sequences for it. These sequences have the size of 314 amino acids and molecular mass of 59.46 kDa. To us, the GMPS is of special interest as it may be able to not only create GMP out of XMP but also iso-GMP. | |
− | + | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
− | Another interesting enzyme | + | Another interesting enzyme from the purine metabolism is the Inosine monophosphate-dehydrogenase (IMPDH) that matched with three trinity sequences. IMPDH is an enzyme from the class of the Oxydoreductases which are acting on CH-OH groups of donors with NAD+ or NADP+ as acceptors. IMPDH has a molecular mass of53-58 kDA depending on the exact sequence and a length of approximately 500 to 550 amino acids. In the purine metabolism, IMPDH is the catalysator of the synthetasis of XMP out of inosine monophosphate (IMP). For <i>L. croton tiglium</i> it means that it could possibly enable the creation of an iso-form of XMP that might then even be a creator of iso-GMP. |
+ | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
− | Further on, the cytidine deaminase seemed to be of | + | Further on, the cytidine deaminase seemed to be of immense potential. The CDA, which belongs to the class of hydrolases acting on carbon-nitrogen bonds different from peptide bonds is usually used to deaminate cytidine to uridine. However, there is also a risk of back reactions and a potential for further ones. For our purposes, we thought of a reaction from xanthosine to iso-GMP. The found amino acid sequence for cda from trinity assembly is 535 amino acids long and has a molecular mass of 33.95 kDa. |
<br> | <br> | ||
− | + | Aside from these enzymes, we thought of the adenylosuccinate synthetase as an interesting aspect of the purine pathway. The ADSS belonging to the class of ligases, which are forming carbon-nitrogen bonds, could only be found within one sequence of the trinity assembly. This has a molecular weight of 53.32 kDA and a size of 489 amino acids. In <i>L. croton tiglium</i>, it causes the reaction of IMP to adenylosuccinate that will then be further processed into AMP. | |
<br> | <br> | ||
− | + | The final enzyme that we focussed on is xanthine dehydrogenase. With two different reactions as possible outcomes that cause the same products, the XDH will usually convert xanthine into urate that will be further processed afterwards. XDH is an enzyme from the class of oxidoreductases that is acting on CH or CH2 groups with NAD+ or NADH+ as an acceptor and could even be matched with six sequences of the trinity assembly. It has a molecular mass of 64.12 kDA and a size of 587 amino acids. | |
Line 60: | Line 79: | ||
<div class="content"> | <div class="content"> | ||
− | <h3> Extraction of | + | <h3> Extraction of Enzyme DNA out of the cDNA Library </h3> |
Revision as of 12:35, 31 October 2017
Short Summary
Usage of the Data Generated by the Trinity Assembly
Identification of Candidate Genes
Firstly, there is the guanosine monophosphate synthetases (GMPS), an enzyme from the class of ligases that form carbon-nitrogen-bonds with glutamine as an amido-N-donor. It is also known as Guanosine monophosphate synthetase and is abbreviated with guaA. GMPS is important for us since it is needed for the amination of XMP (xanthosine monophosphate) to create GMP and possibly iso-GMP. Besides , GMPS can be found in many organisms apart from L. Croton tiglium, including H. sapiens and E.coli. Comparing the found sequences of the GMPS with the trinity assembly allowed us to figure out two slightly different sequences for it. These sequences have the size of 314 amino acids and molecular mass of 59.46 kDa. To us, the GMPS is of special interest as it may be able to not only create GMP out of XMP but also iso-GMP.
Another interesting enzyme from the purine metabolism is the Inosine monophosphate-dehydrogenase (IMPDH) that matched with three trinity sequences. IMPDH is an enzyme from the class of the Oxydoreductases which are acting on CH-OH groups of donors with NAD+ or NADP+ as acceptors. IMPDH has a molecular mass of53-58 kDA depending on the exact sequence and a length of approximately 500 to 550 amino acids. In the purine metabolism, IMPDH is the catalysator of the synthetasis of XMP out of inosine monophosphate (IMP). For L. croton tiglium it means that it could possibly enable the creation of an iso-form of XMP that might then even be a creator of iso-GMP.
Further on, the cytidine deaminase seemed to be of immense potential. The CDA, which belongs to the class of hydrolases acting on carbon-nitrogen bonds different from peptide bonds is usually used to deaminate cytidine to uridine. However, there is also a risk of back reactions and a potential for further ones. For our purposes, we thought of a reaction from xanthosine to iso-GMP. The found amino acid sequence for cda from trinity assembly is 535 amino acids long and has a molecular mass of 33.95 kDa.
Aside from these enzymes, we thought of the adenylosuccinate synthetase as an interesting aspect of the purine pathway. The ADSS belonging to the class of ligases, which are forming carbon-nitrogen bonds, could only be found within one sequence of the trinity assembly. This has a molecular weight of 53.32 kDA and a size of 489 amino acids. In L. croton tiglium, it causes the reaction of IMP to adenylosuccinate that will then be further processed into AMP.
The final enzyme that we focussed on is xanthine dehydrogenase. With two different reactions as possible outcomes that cause the same products, the XDH will usually convert xanthine into urate that will be further processed afterwards. XDH is an enzyme from the class of oxidoreductases that is acting on CH or CH2 groups with NAD+ or NADH+ as an acceptor and could even be matched with six sequences of the trinity assembly. It has a molecular mass of 64.12 kDA and a size of 587 amino acids.
Extraction of Enzyme DNA out of the cDNA Library
Next to these candidate genes, we further extracted the ccd gene out of Croton tiglium tissue samples with these pcrs, cloning it into the Phytobrick-vector BBa_P10500 using the opportunity of the blue-white selection.
Preparation of the protein purification
As we did many tests with the enzyme needed, we did all of the following steps multiple times. Therefore, at first, we had to clone the sequences into a strain that adds an intein tag to the protein sequences and is usable for the impact protocol. For this purpose, we used the vector pTXB1. As this was only available in small amounts as a plasmid containing another vector, we first had to integrate it into electro competent E.coli dh5alpha cells. Plates were incubated overnight (O/N) at 37°C. From these,what we made another plasmid isolation. After this was done, we used two different methods (PCR as well as restriction enzymes) to linearize the plasmid and to exclude the initially integrated insert. As a next step, we did Gibson assemblies with all of the possible candidates for the enzymes that we had previously extracted integrating them into the previously linearized ptxb1 vectors.
After the Gibson assemblies, we transformed the vectors into electro and chemo competent dH5-alpha E.coli so that we could analyze which of those had worked well with the help of an colony PCR and sequencing. Following, all of the proteins where we had had positive clones from were isolated and then integrated into electro competent ER2566 E.coli as they have certain properties needed for the impact protocol. This strain contains a copy of the T7 RNA polymerase that will only be expressed when IPTG is present. This way, the proteins cannot be expressed prior to their further usage. Furthermore, there are no critical proteases within ER2566. From this step on, we followed the modified version of the protocol for impact that can also be found here.
So, we first propagated the cells in 250ml LB with supplemented with antibiotics until they reached an OD600 of at least 0.5. Then, we added IPTG and let the proteins express overnight. On the next day, we first pelleted our cells, resuspended them in lysis buffer and decomposed them with the help of the French press. While we centrifuged to separate the cell extracts from the debris, we prepared the columns for the purification. Therefore, we used chitin beads making up approximately 5ml volume and equilibrated the columns.
Protein purification
Estimation of the Protein concentration
Enzyme activity assays
- 0.000167M cytidine
- 0.05M Tris-HCL-Buffer pH 7.5
- Filled up with ddH2O.
After the general activity of the CDA was tested, we set up a possible reaction with xanthosine instead of cytidine, all other components being the same. However, as there was no real literature on this reaction, we first had to figure out the absorption at what xanthosine can be measured. This was done using a general spectrum analysis from different mixtures, 3 samples each:
- without xanthosine, without cda
- with xanthosine, without cda
- without xanthosine , with cda
- with xanthosine, with cda
- 1+3: difference between a reaction mixture with and without cda
- 1+2: difference between a reaction mixture with and without xanthosine
- 2+4: difference between no reaction and a possible reaction
Figure (1): Results of the analysis of the absorbance of xanthosine at different nanometers.
The difference between a mixture with and without xanthosine(red) can clearly be made up at about 282nm.
- 60 mM HEPES
- 5mM ATP
- 0.2mM XMP
- 20mM MgCL2
- 200mM NH4CL
- 0.1mM DTT
- 0.8mM EDTA
- Filled up with ddH2O
- 100µl of the reaction mixture
- 10µl of the diluted ATP
- 10µl of the diluted XMP
- 76µl ddH2O
-
After the samples were set up, they were measured within the Tecan reader at an absorbance of 290nm for about 20 minutes. After these, 4µl of water/GMPS/GMPS(gene synthesis) were added to three samples each. Afterwards, the measurement was continued for approximately an hour.
For the entire enzyme reactions measured, we used room temperature to meet the plants ordinary growing temperatures within the original botanical garden. After the measurements, the final analysis was done using the mean value out of the three identical samples and also calculating the standard deviation out of these. Then, they were plotted into graphs showing their development before and after the addition of the enzyme or water (Figures 1-, see Final Discussion). All of them showed some activity.
In addition, over-night enzyme activity assays were done. However, as they did not show any significant developments after the first hour, the enzyme reactions seem to be very fast, mainly working within the first minutes.
Analytical measurements of the Products of the enzyme reactions
In combination with the MicroTofQ system, a mass spectrometer, not only the time of flow trough can be measured but also the molecular mass of the substances can be estimated. In general, mass spectrometers will transfer the analytes into their gas form and ionize them. Afterwards, they will be accelerated and transferred to the analysis system that will then divide them by their masses. Combined, these two systems can give valuable statements about the substances included in a reaction mixture. For our puposes, we used parameters for the MicroTofQ like in (Ruwe et al 2017) with a measurement in negative mode were the masses would be measured minus an H-atom. However, as we wanted to differentiate between different forms of substances with the same mass, we had to try some more measurement methods for the HPLC. In the end, we used the “Zip-pHILIC” column with a length of 150mm and a diameter of 2.1mm from Merck.
As the mobile phase, we used Ammoniumbicarbonat (pH=9.3) as well as Acteonitril in a ratio of 27% to 73%. These were used in isocratic mode with a flow-through of 0.2ml/min. Injected out of the reaction mixture were 2µl. The whole separation took place at 40 degrees celcius.
Final Discussion of the enzyme reactions
Figure (2): Enzyme activity assay for the standard reaction of the cytidine deaminase
After the addition of water, the absorbance at 282nm stayed the same whereas it decreased after the addition of the CDA. Thus, the enzyme activity is viewable.
Figure (3): Enzyme activity assay for the reaction of the cytidine deaminase with xanthosine as a substrate.
After the addition of CDA to the reaction mixture, a slight decrease in the absorbance at 282nm was visible. However, as there is also a very small decrease for the addition of water, no significant statement can be made.
Figure (4): HPLC-MicroTofQ measurement for the products of the reaction of CDA with xanthosine.
Even if many different masses could be found, none of these could be matched to guanosine or iso-guanosine. For these, a peak should be at about 282g/mol.
The activity assays of the self-extracted GMPS and the gene synthesis both proved that the enzymes are working correctly, reducing the amount of XMP within the reaction mixture significantly. Therefore, the absorption at 290nm decreased a lot after the addition of the enzyme to the solution for the self-extracted form of GMPS whereas the initial decrease was weaker for the gene synthesis. However, both decreased the amount of XMP about the same within the hour their reaction was measured. Thus, it can be said that both, the GMPS and the gene synthesis enzymes, are working correctly. (See Figure 5 and Figure 6 for comparison)
Figure (5): Enzyme activity assay of the guanosine monophosphate synthetases ordere via gene synthesis.
A significant decrease in the absorption at 290nm can be made up after the addition of the synthetized GMPS whereas the negative control with water stays at the same absorption.
Figure (6):Enzyme activity assay of the guanosine monophosphate synthetases extracted from Croton tiglium.
significant decrease in the absorption at 290nm can be made up after the addtion of the GMPS whereas the negative control with water stays at the same absorption.
Figure (7): HPLC-MicroTofQ measurement for the substances within the reaction mixture of the fully extracted GMPS.
Next to the substrates, ATP and XMP, also resulting substances like ATP and GMP can be found.
Figure (8): HPLC-MicroTofQ measurement for the substances within the reaction mxture of the GMPS with the synthetized sequence.
Next to the substrates, ATP and XMP, also resulting substances like ATP and GMP can be found.
Figure (9): HPLC-MicroTofQ measurement comparing the flow-through of the GMP standard and the products with the same mass of the reactions with the two forms of GMPS.
Even though the standard as well as the mixtures contained compounds that have the same molecular mass, they show different behaviors on the HPLC. The ordinary GMP was significantly faster than the one generated in the enzyme reactions. Thus, the form of GMP that results from the reactions is likely to be iso-GMP.