Team:UiOslo Norway/Results


Results

Physics

Our results vary from the characteristics of light from a LED to how a protein solution with fluorescent properties (GFP) act when light upon:
  • We managed to create a light source that emitted light in the correct wavelength for the GFP to get excited. This being a homemade LED-circuit with a blue diode.
  • We proved that there were no fluorescens from the GFP when light upon with green or red light, only when being light upon by the light source that had the correct wavelength (blue LED-circuit).
  • We managed to verify that you do not need monochromatic light to get fluorescens.
  • We were not able to measure the light emitted from the GFP with a CCD-camera.
  • We got to test multiple setups with the GFP solution, but none proved lasing, at least not with our equipment.
  • In the end we had some red light emitted from the GFP used, this we could see in the spectrometer.

Parts in submission vectors:

CYC1 / BBa_K2110000

Successful transformation of E.coli TOP10 with Gibson solution indicated by bacterial growth on LB plates containing chloramphenicol(25 mg/mL).

Results from PCR further confirm an insert of correct length.

Sequencing results show as successful insertion into pSB1C3. Sequencing data provided here. Has a 100% identity with BBa_K2110000.

Nmt1 / BBa_K2424000:

Successful transformation of E.coli TOP10 with Gibson solution indicated by bacterial growth on LB plates containing chloramphenicol(25 mg/mL). However there were red colonies persent, meaning that they contained an empty vector.

Gel from PCR suggested that white colonies do not contain insert, but rather are bacteria that are not chloramphenicol resistant. This occurs when plates are incubated to long and antibiotica has deteriorated. Reason for longer incubation time than recommended is due to the antibiotics used. Chloramphenicol is tougher on bacteria cells than ampicillin and bacteria may need more time to grow.

Several attempts have given same result. It been theorized that the reason why nmt1 is harder to insert is caused by its DNA secondary structure; we were informed that this could potentially cause problems when the DNA was syntesized.

However, this stepback has caused us to modify gibson assembly protocol. Increase incubation to 1h and dilute the gibson solution to remove some molecules in the Gibson Mix causing trouble during transformation. We have diluted 1:3, but increased the volume used in transformation to 3 times of original volume. Leading to the same volume of plasmid, but ⅓ of the gibson mix. Results show an increased number of transformed colonies from the diluted solution.

Further results for PCR indicate a insert of right size. Samples have also been sent to GATC for sequencing.

Composite part :

We faced similar problems with the composite part as with NMT1; likely for the same reasons as above, as the composite part contains the NMT1 sequence and would face the same issues with the secondary structure. We ordered specific primers to create a composite part with 5A overhangs (see Lab Methods) and used these to do 3A assembly on the composite part. This eventually lead to a successful transformation, and this transformation was purified and sent for sequencing.



sfGFP purification


Using this calculator, we calculated the extinction coefficient and molecular weight:

The same calculations are done for batch nr. 2 (1 mL) and batch nr. 3 (877µL), which are actually samples from column nr. 2, just splitt into two. The results for these samples are:
  • batch nr. 2 (1 mL): 5.15 mg
  • batch nr. 3 (877µL): 10.9 mg
This gives total mass of:
total mass (sfGFP)=19.3 mg+5.15 mg+10.9 mg=35.35 mg

SDS-page
Observations
Batch nr. 1 had bright green colour, and we got a lot of precipitation in this solution after dialysis.
Batch nr. 2 and batch nr. 3 are made out of one sample from dialysis. It was not resuspended after centrifugation so the batch nr. 2 and 3 have different concentrations of sfGFP and amount of precipitation (batch nr. 3 had more precipitation and bigger absorbance).

Second experiement


The isolated sfGFP stored in test tubes at 4ºC after repeating the procedure
Observations
The product was green which indicates presence of sfGFP protein.

NTNU collaboration

Fig. 2.0. Significant differences observed between number of colonies formed (pLA230/MP6 transformed Top10 Ecoli cells) in plates, pre-incubated with either 20 mM arabinose or glocose in day3. Test (+ Amp, down) and control (-Amp, up). Individual plate results shown below. The images are linked rather than put here as the colonies are small and we need a very high resolution to see the colonies properly:
Fig. 2.1. 10^0 concentration (+Amp); colonies formed pre-incubated with either 20 mM arabinose or glocose in day3.
Fig. 2.2. 10^-1 concentration (+Amp); colonies formed pre-incubated with either 20 mM arabinose or glocose in day3.
Fig. 2.3. 10^-2 concentration (+Amp); colonies formed pre-incubated with either 20 mM arabinose or glocose in day3.
Fig. 2.4. 10^-3 concentration (+Amp); colonies formed pre-incubated with either 20 mM arabinose or glocose in day3.
Fig. 2.5. 10^-5 concentration (-Amp); colonies formed pre-incubated with either 20 mM arabinose or glocose in day3.
Fig. 2.6. 10^-6 concentration (-Amp); colonies formed pre-incubated with either 20 mM arabinose or glocose in day3.
Fig. 2.7. 10^-7 concentration (-Amp); colonies formed pre-incubated with either 20 mM arabinose or glocose in day3.
Fig. 2.8. 10^-8 concentration (-Amp); colonies formed pre-incubated with either 20 mM arabinose or glocose in day3.

Interlab

Results from the InterLab Study can be found at the InterLab page of our wiki.

The light spectrum for the LED with no filters, a 4000 spaces pr inch. Showing that the light is not monochromatic.

One of the sfGFP sample that did not work

sfGFp sample that had fluorescence with our set up

Testing the same sfGFP as above with red light, no fluorescence.

Testing the same sfGFP as aboce with green light, still no fluorescence.








The gel after 1 hour of distaining (SDS-Page ran for 2x40min)
Calculation of the extinction coefficient and molecular weight for sfGFP