Construction of plasmids

pSB1C3_IntK

Our first attempts to build the construct ( BBa_K743004) through Gibson Assemly were unsuccessful due to problems involving high compexity of the reaction, however we were able to Biobrick the recombination sites ( Part:BBa_K743000 and [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K743001 | Part:BBa_K743001]). Afterwards we decided to build a simple backbone first before continuing with more complex assemblies.

Through standard assembly we managed to build [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K743006| K743006] which led us to continue assembling our constructs through simpler Gibson Assemblies.

sfGFP with LVA tag for describing circadian behaviour

To describe the circadian behaviour of the promoter we built a fast-degrading reporter consisting of sfGPF I746916 with a LVA degradation tag in the C-terminal end of the protein. This construct will serve as a real-time reporter of promoter activity, you may find more information about the half-life of proteins with the LVA tag [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_M0050 | here]. The construct has been verified by digestion and corroborated by sequencing.

Luciferase(s)

In short time we were able to build our final constructs for the luciferase using 2 different versions of it available in the registry ([http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K743014 | From Photorhabdus luminiscent, BBa_K743014] and [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K743015 | from Vibrio fisherii, BBa_K743015]) under an endogenous Synechocystis's promoter (transaldolase Reference???). All constructs and parts have been verified by digestion and corroborated by sequencing.

pSB1A3_IntC (From 2010 Utah's iGEM team)

We decided to use this plasmid to place the LuxCDEG part of the Lux operon in this plasmid, however after various attempts to transform Synechocystis without success we reconsidered (see below SOMEWHERE!!! [[]]) due to problems regarding the design of this plasmid backbone. After analyzing the sequence of the vector (CODE HERE) we blasted the sequences of the recombination sites and we found out that position of the sequences of each recombination site are swapped, leaving the backbone part of the plasmid to be integrated into the genome. Furthermore, the recombination sites are separated by aproximately 2.2 kilobases, knocking 1 gene.

You can see their original construct design here.

Here we illustrate the recombination mechanism in which the Int_C plasmid would integrate the backbone part of the vector to the genome.

pSB1C3_IntS

After we reconsidered about using pSB1A3_IntC we designed a new plasmid backbone to place the LuxCDEG (substrate regeneration part of the Lux operon) under the Synechocystis's promoters we choose through our modelling (LINK HERE). We have obtained the plasmid backbone including all parts through Gibson Assembly and the plasmid has validated through digestion and was corroborated through sequencing.

Substrate production under Pcaa3

We have assembled all parts of the substrate production pathway ([http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K325902| LuxCD] and [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K325903| LuxEG]) for the final construct under the Pcaa3 promoter (which has also been Biobricked with code [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K743002 K743002] and we are now verifying for positive assembles.

Substrate production under PsigE

As this assembly was unsuccessful previously, we are re-amplifying the LuxCD part (to obtain higher concentrations of the insert) and we will retry the assembly after the wiki freeze.

Synechocystis

Standardizing growth conditions

While we managed to acquire an inoculum of Synechocystis PCC 6803, no conditions were set for working with Synechocystis PCC 6803 in our faculty. We proceeded to standardize our own growth conditions by building a custom made cyanobacterial incubator based on growth conditions described in the literature (References?)

Here we show our growth curve for Synechocystis PCC 6803 using the conditions set in our DIY) shaking incubator (40uE/s/m²), 90 RPM, 30°C.

Methods for the growth curve characterization of Synechocystis PCC 6803 over here.

Transforming Synechocystis PCC 6803

After corroborating our constructs we proceded with the Synechocystis transformation for each of the constructs as soon as we obtained sufficient concentration (10ug) of the construct.

Transformation in Synechocystis takes about 2 weeks to reveal transformant colonies, which in turn have to restreaked again before PCR verification. This makes working in Synechocystis pressing as mistakes can take long to unravel.

BBa_K743009

This picture shows a transformation after 11 days. On the left there is the control transformation plate (no DNA) on antibiotic and in the right a positive transformation of [http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K743009 K743009] with its corresponding Synechocystis colonies growing througout the Millipore membrane on the same antibiotic.

500px

Reestreaking

Confirming DNA

Conclusions

Revealing phenotypes

Microscopy

Luminometer readings

Conclusions