Team:CIDEB-UANL Mexico/labwork methods

Construction plan and Protocols - Return to the Top

How do we plan to get the construction of our modules? Here is shown all the construction plan that we followed with all the aspects that we considered.

Protocols and Construction Plan PDF

Experiments - Return to the Top

In this section, the experiments performed in order to test the effectivness of the predicted models for our proyect, will be described.

The tested parts are the following::

Capture Module

Aroma Module

Union Module

Capture Module - Return to the Top

UV Experimentation

This experiment was designed in order to test the UV promoter's efectivness.

Procedure:

1. 2 Petri dishes were inoculated according to the "streak method" with transformed bacteria from a cultured petri dish, containing the NhaS and the RFP genes in their plasmids. (These colonies looked red due to the RFP)

2. The first step was repeated, this time with the transformed bacteria cultures containing the NhaS gene only, without the RFP gene. (These colonies looked white due to the absence of the RFP)

3. The bacteria was grown for one day in the incubator at 37°C

4. The four petri dishes were exposed to UV radiation (302nm) during a 2 hour period

5. Pictures were taken of the bacteria cultures at 10 minute intervals for the 2 hour period

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Viability test of the NhaS gene containing bacteria in salt - Return to the Top

In theory, the NhaS gene gives the bacteria a certain resistance to salt, but the exact percentage of increase in the resistance is unknown. Four experiments were designed in order to test:

• The viability of the NhaS transformed bacteria to survive in a salty environment
• The maximum ammount of salt in the medium which can be withstanded by the transformed bacteria
• Which of the two kinds of bacteria (red and white) gotten in the ligation, has the nhaS gene.

In the ligation process of the NhaS gene, two different kinds of plasmids were obtained due to a possible mutation. The ones containing the RFP producing gene, and the ones that did not. Because it was uncertain the presence of the NhaS gene in the non-RFP producing bacteria these experiments were designed and performed in order to determine which one of the groups contain the NhaS gene.

 

Experiment #1

Materials:

● NaCl concentration of 1%

● NaCl concentration of 2.5%

● NaCl concentration of 5%

● NaCl concentration of 10%

● NaCl concentration of 15%

● 18 erlenmeyer flasks

● A micropipette of 1000 micro liters

● Micropipette peaks

● Bacteria with NhaS gene and reporter expression (red bacteria or RB)

● Bacteria with NhaS gene and no reporter expression (with batceria)

● Bacteria with no NhaS gene and no reporter presented (with bacteria without the gene)

● 33 petri dishes

Procedure:

1. Five concentrations of NaCl in mQ water (1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 10.0%, 15.0%) were prepared in separated flasks.

2. The three groups of bacteria (RFP+NhaS, NhaS and the contro) were separated in different test tubes.

3. In a petri dish with LB agar and Chloramphenicol, 1 milliliter of the 1.0% concentration of NaCl was introduced; this process was repeated in the three petri dishes and in a sterile environment 30 cm near the bunsen burner in order to avoid contamination.

4. In both both petri dishes, 200 microliters of NhaS transformed red bacteria were introduced, and distributed the content with a sterile glass inoculation spreader in a sterile environment.

5. The steps 3 and 4 were repeated four times, but with the other four concentrations (2.5%, 5.0%, 10.0%, 15.0%.).

6. The s teps 3 through 5 were repeated two more times, with a the remaining groups of bacteria.

7. Three petri dishes with LB agar were inoculated with the control bacteria, introducing 200 microliters of it and spreading it with a sterile glass inoculation spreader.

8. The 33 total petri dishes were cultivated at 37º C for 24 hours.

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Experiment #2

Materials:

●15 erlenmeyer flasks of 100 ml.

●Cultive of NhaS red transformed bacteria.

●Cultive of NhaS white transformed bacteria.

●20 ml of each one of the next concentrations of NaCl.

1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 10.0%, 15.0

Procedure:

1. In flasks of 100mL, different concentrations of NaCl in mQ water were preparated(1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 10.0%, 15.0%), having a finale volume of 20mL, and were divided into 3 flasks of each concentration

2. 200 uL of NhaS transformed white bacteria solution was placed in the flasks with each of the five different concentrations in a sterile environment, no more than 30 cm away from a Bunsen burner, to avoid sample contamination.

3. The previous step was repeated with the other two groups of bacteria. At the end there will be 15 flasks. of bacteria (five of each type).

4. The 15 flasks were incubated at 37 ºC during a day.

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Experiment #3

Materials:

● 25ml NaCl 1% + 25 ml CLB + 50 ml Cm

● 25ml NaCl 2.5% + 25 ml CLB + 50 ml Cm

● 25ml NaCl 5% + 25 ml CLB + 50 ml Cm

● 25ml NaCl 10% + 25 ml CLB + 50 ml Cm

● 25ml NaCl 15% + 25 ml CLB + 50 ml Cm

● 18 erlenmeye flasks

● 1000 micro micropipette

● Micropipette peaks

● Bacteria with NhaS gene and reporter expression (red bacteria or RB)

● Bacteria with NhaS gene and no reporter expression (with batceria)

● Bacteria with no NhaS gene and no reporter presented (with bacteria without the gene)

Procedure:

1. Three samples of each salt concentration are produced in order expose all bacteria to all salt concentration independently. These concentrations are made into Erlenmeyer flasks; this represents a total of 15 erlenmeye flasks used in the beginning of the process.

2. Three Erlenmeyer flasks were previously settled with the different bacteria. Each of these three Erlenmeyer flask contained a specific group of bacteria (red bacteria, white bacteria and controlled bacteria)

3. With the micropipette and it’s respective peaks, 200uL of red bacteria solution were added to all salt concentrations (Just in one flask of the three ones from Nacl1% mix to NaCl 15% mix); this process was repeated in the three petri dishes and in a sterile environment 30 cm near the bunsen burner in order to avoid contamination.

4. The micropipette peak was changed and 200uL of white bacteria solution were added to all salt concentrations (Just in one flask of the three ones from Nacl1% mix to NaCl 15% mix); this process was repeated in the three petri dishes and in a sterile environment 30 cm near the bunsen burner in order to avoid contamination.

5. Finally but not less important, with the micropipette and it’s respective peaks, 200uL of red bacteria solution were added to all salt concentrations (Just in one flask of the three ones from Nacl1% mix to NaCl 15% mix) ; this process was repeated in the three petri dishes and in a sterile environment 30 cm near the bunsen burner in order to avoid contamination.

6. The Erlenmeyer were incubated for 12 hours.

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Aroma module - Return to the Top

Qualitative experiments

In the project, one of the modules (the aroma module) consisted in the production of a scented ester in (Winter Green). In order for the gene to work how it was supposed to work, the bacteria must be in an environment with a temperature higher than 32º C. This is because the gene has a constitutive promoter, but an RNA thermoswitch. which permit the synthesis of the protein. The thing is that even if the gene is expressed, it did not had any smell. The reason is because Winter Green odor is produced when the BSTM1 protein comes in contact with salicylic acid. The first experiment was designed only to prove that the protein is being produced and that the Winter Green odor can be smelled.

Test tubes aroma experiment

Materials:

●10 ml of BSMT1 opt. transformed cultive.

●8 test tubes with 3 ml of LB medium and 3 uL of chloramphenicol.

●A test tube inoculated with control bacteria (untransformed).

●Salicylic acid at different concentrations (1mM, 2 mM, 3 mM and 4 mM).

Procedure:

First part

1. 8 test tubes were inoculated with the BSMT1 opt. transformed bacteria.

2. 3 ml of salicylic acid (relation 1:1) were added to 4 test tubes, each one with different concentrations:

1 mM of salicylic acid

2 mM of salicylic acid

3 mM of salicylic acid

4 mM of salicylic acid

3. Incubate all test tubes at 37º C during a day

Second part

1. In a “gradilla” was put an a test tube inoculated with the control bacteria, a test tube inoculated with BSTM1 opt. bacteria and salicylic acid, and a test tube inoculated with BSTM1 opt. bacteria but without salicylic acid.

2. Random people was chosen and asked to smell the three test tubes and describe what the smelled.

Petri dishes aroma experiment

Then in order to know if the RNA thermoswitch is working and at which concentration of salicylic acid smells the strongest, the following experiment was performed.

Procedure:

First part:

1. 12 Petri dishes with an LB medium and the Chloramphenicol antibiotic were prepared.

2.3 mL of a solution containing salicylic acid and mQ water was added to four Petri dishes, with the concentration of salicylic acid being of 10 mM.

*The step noº 2, was repeated two more times changing the concentration of 10 mM of salicylic acid to 20 mM and 30 mM.

3. 6 Petri dishes with LB medium were prepared.

4. 3 mL of a solution containing salicylic acid and mQ water was added into 2 Petri dishes, with the concentration of salicylic acid being of 10 mM.

*The step noº 4 was repeated two more times changing the concentration of 10 mM of salicylic acid to 20 mM and 30 mM.

5. 200 µL of bacteriawas added into all of the petri dishes.

6. 2 Petri dishes containing Chloramphenicol from each of the three concentrations and 1 Petri dish without Chloramphenicol from each concentration were incubated at 29 ºC for one day.

7. 2 Petri dishes containing Chloramphenicol from each of the three concentrations and 1 Petri dish without Chloramphenicol from each concentration were incubated at 35 ºC for one day.

Second part:

1. Random people were chosen to smell the bacteria and a video was taken of their experience:

- A group of bacteria with the aroma module at a temperature below 32 ºC.

- A group of bacteria with the aroma module at a temperature above 32 ºC.

- A controlled group of bacteria without the gene at a temperature below 32 ºC.

- A controlled group of bacteria without the gene at a temperature above 32 ºC.

2. The people were asked to describe what they were smelling

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Union module - Return to the Top

Even if the construction of the union module was not finished, there was a planned experiment in order to characterize the module. As the function of the union module is to give E. coli the ability of binding to silica pearls the experiment was designed with the expectative of get results of how many bacteria bind to the silica in certain time, and the relation between how many silica pearls are and how many bacteria binds to it.

SILICA EXPERIMENT

Materials:

● 1000mL (1L) of bacteria with L2+AIDA (silica module) in pSB1C3 plasmid cultive.

● 500ml of control bacteria (untransformed).

● 75 corning tubes of 50 ml.

Procedure:

1. Get the weight of each one of the 75 corning tubes

2. In 50 corning tubes introduce 20 ml of bacteria transformed with L2+AIDA and in other 25 tubes, 20 ml of untransformed bacteria (control).

3. Divide the corning tubes in groups (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) of 5 control and 10 with L2+AIDA bacteria

4. Centrifugate all groups at 5,000 rpm during 10 minutes. Throw the supernatan.

5. Weight all the groups and subtract it to the previous weight (Step 1).

6. Resuspend bacteria in 20 ml of LB medium.

7. In each group, separate the corning tubes and add them the next grams of silica pearls:

TABLE

8. Wait during the next time:

Group 1 - 1 hr

Group 2 - 3 hr

Group 3 - 5 hr

Group 4 - 12 hr

Group 5 - 24 hr

9. At their respective time separate the silica pearls of bacteria by decantation

10. Centrifugate at 5,000 rpm during 10 minutes all the corning tubes. Throw the supernatant.

11. Weight each of the corning tubes and subtract it to the initial weight (step 1).

12. Compare both weights (Step 5 and step 11).