Team:University College London/LabBook/Week11

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Contents

Monday 20.08

Aim: To test how the amount of nuclease produced by W3110 E. coli cells changes over time


Methods: (to make in a protocol format please For Wnu cell line which has native secreted nuclease activity 1. Prepare 11-16 plates (10ml LBAgar+10ul AMP +10 ul 1M IPTG). IPTGinduces the lac promoter which in turnactivates the transcription of nuclease. 2. Streak cells onto all plates at the same time 3. Incubate at 37°C 4. Applyhydrchloric acid (HCL) to the first plate before putting in the incubator (set time as zero) 5. Take a second reading after four hours, followed by six readingsevery 3 hours, and a final three readings every two hours. 6. When the reading is taken, observe the following: a) Diameter of the colony (once the diameter of the colony is measured, pick the colony and put it to grow in LB for nine hours) b) Diameter of the halo that is achieved once HCL is applied c) OD from a) d) Estimate of the depth of the colony on the agar plate For BL21 cell line that has been modified to contain nuclease 7. Prepare 11-16 plates (LB Agar + CMP) 8. Streak cells onto all plates at the same time 9. Incubate at 37°C 10. Apply HCL to the first plate before putting in the incubator (set time as zero) 11. Take a second reading after four hours, followed by six readings every 3 hours, and a final three readings every two hours. 12. When the reading is taken, observe the following: a. Diameter of the colony (once the diameter of the colony is measured, pick the colony and put it to grow in LB for nine hours) b. Diameter of the halo that is achieved once HCL is applied c. OD from a) d. Estimate of the depth of the colony on the agar plate


Results: The following table shows readings of the colony and halo diameters, plus the OD, taken at different times over 28 hours.

Date Time Colony diameter Halo diameter Absorbance at 600 OD
20.08.2012 12.30pm 0 0 0
20.08.2012 16.30pm 0 0 0
20.08.2012 19.30 pm 0 0 0
20.08.2012 22.30 pm 0.5mm 1mm 0.001
21.08.2012 01.30 am 1mm 3mm 0.142
21.08.2012 04.30 am 1.5mm 7mm 0.228
21.08.2012 07.30 am 1.5mm 7.5mm 0.252
21.08.2012 10.30am 2.5mm 11mm 0.522
21.08.2012 12.30pm 3mm 13mm 0.749
21.08.2012 14.30pm 3.5mm 14.5mm 0.844
21.08.2012 16.30pm 4mm 16mm 0.937


Conclusion: From the data collected, it is clear that colony size correlates with the nuclease produced, which is represented by the diameter of the halo. Readings indicated that both are proportionally related to time. The second run of the experiment will be done in the coming weeks so as to obtain data replicates in order to validate data (See Week 13).

Tuesday 21.08

Aim: To make chemically competent W3110 E. coli Cells – Day 1

Methods: Day 1 protocol. See previous experiments.

Wednesday 22.08

Aim: To make chemically competent W3110 E. coli Cells – Day 2

Methods: Day 2 protocol. See previous experiments.


Thursday 23.08

Aim: To make chemically competent W3110 E. coli Cells – Day 3

Methods: Day 2 protocol. See previous experiments.


Tuesday 21.08

Aim: To carry out PCR clean-up to purify the Laccase gene and Curli cluster of genes achieved from PCR carried out. The PCR was carried out in Week 10 (See Experiment 9.2, Wednesday 15 August 2012)


Method: Please refer to previous protocols


The following table shows the gene which was extracted from PCR and the primers which were used for the PCR.

Gene Primers used
Curli CF1 - C2R
Curli CF3 – C4R
Curli CF1 – C4R
Curli CF3 – C2R
Laccase LFONE - LR1
Laccase LFTWO - REVLF2
Laccase LR1 – LFTWO
IrrE STF1 – ST2R
IrrE STF3 – ST4R


Results: The following diagram shows the results of a gel run with samples from an analytical digest in order to confirm plasmid identity of Curli and Laccase after PCR clean-up, with each well having 3ul of PCR purified product. In addition the table on the bottom right shows the concentration of the purified products. The samples in bold below represent the PCR reactions which where considered successful, and hence taken forward for ligation.


Ucl201211.1.png


The following table shows a gel run with sampled of the purified IrrE gene. As can be seen from the gel, the purified material remained in the well, indicating that PCR clean-up was not successful.


Ucl201211.2.png


Conclusion: Since PCR was unsuccessful, this was repetead (See Week 12)


Wednesday 22.08

Step 1 - Aim: To carry out a preparative digest on the tetracycline plasmid backbone, cobalt curli, terminator and nuclease in preparation of ligation.


Methods: Please refer to previous runs


Step 2 - Aim: To carry out a ligation of cobalt curli and the terminator sequence and another ligation of the nuclease and terminator sequence, in preparation of further ligations. This was done by ligating the terminator sequence to the curli cluster of genes through an EcoRI-PstI ligation, and another ligation of the terminator to nuclease through an EcoRI-PstI ligation.


Once success of ligation is confirmed, two subsequent ligations will be carried out to attach the ligated sequences to the promoter and RBS, and eventually the backbone.


Methods: Please refer to previous runs


Step 3 - Aim: To transform W3110 cells with the ligated sequences from above.


Methods: Please refer to previous runs


The following table shows the number of plates with 10ul and 90ul of transformation product:

Ligation Number of plates with 10ul volume of transformation product Number of plates with 90ul volume of transformation product
Curli + terminator 3 3
Nuclease + terminator 3 3

In addition, three controls were used; one agar plate with no antibiotic to act as a positive control, one agar plate with ampicillin instead of nuclease to act as a negative control and a final agar plate with chloramphenicol instead of curli to act as a negative control.

Thursday 23.08

Step 1 - Aim: To check whether transformation carried out using ligated sequences was successful.


Results: A large number of clear, isolated colonies were observed on all transformation plates. The positive control showed extensive growth, while the negative controls remained clear, indicating a successful transformation..


Conclusion: Since growth was as expected, colonies were picked for inoculation, as will be explained in the next step


Step 2 - Aim: To inoculate colonies from the transformation plates in preparation for purification and use in further ligations.


Methods: The following table shows the number of colonies picked:

Transformed ligation products Number of colonies
Curli + terminator 4
Nuclease + terminator 3

In addition, three controls were used. One consisted of LB, another of LB + Amp and a third of LB + CMP.

Friday 24.08

Aim: To purify ligated gene+terminator DNA using inoculated colonies from the ligation transformation plates


Results: No growth was noted in the falcon tubes inoculated with colonies.


Conclusion: The purification protocol was not followed, and instead, a repeat of the transformation was carried out as will be explained next.


Aim: To repeat the transformation using the ligation samples.


Methods: Please refer to previous runs

Ligation Number of plates with 10ul volume of transformation product Number of plates with 90ul volume of transformation product
Curli + terminator 3 3
Nuclease + terminator 3 3