Protocols

Overview

Our protocols are based on standard lab protocols used in the lab of our advisers unless otherwise stated. These protocols were subsequently modified if necessary based on our experience. A knowledge of basic lab techniques such as pippeting, plating, etc. are assumed and not covered as there are pretty comprehensive tutorials on the web for those.

Kit Protocols

1.	Z-Competent E. Coli Transformation Kit for making competent cells for easy transformation. Modified to incubate cells on ice for 1 hour during transformation
2.	Phusion High Fidelity PCR Kit for amplifying our inserts and cassettes.
3.	Qiagen Mini-prep Kit for isolating our plasmids from the cells, to be transformed into expression strains.

Dosage Curve

1.	First culture a fresh batch of cells using 1:100 of overnight culture of promoter construct. Culture for around 2 hours or until the solution is lightly turbid.
2.	Induce cells by adding 1ul of 1mM IPTG.
3.	Wash 1mL induced cells once with PBS and resuspend in 1mL M9 media.
4.	Add 1µL of 50nM Mg2+ to the tubes (from MgCl2 from PCR kit)
5.	Aliquot (100ul/200ul) of cells into desired wells of a 96-well plate.
6.	Add various doses of DFHBI to the wells, followed by adding the desired doses of MG
7.	Plate read with plate reader (Tecan Safire II). First find cell density using OD600. Then use Excitation/Emission of 469/501 for Spinach and 635/660 for Malachite-green.

Cloning Protocol

1.	Start digestion of vector and insert DNA using desired restriction enzyme manufacturer protocol. [NEB]
2.	After 2 hours, add Phosphatase [CIP] to insert to prevent self-ligation
3.	Purify and clean DNA using kit. [Zymo Research]
4.	Measure vector/insert concentration. [Nanodrop]
5.	Divide the concentration by the length of the sequence and calculate ligation ratios of 1 vector to 3 insert. Mix the ratios according to the calculations, including T4 buffer and ligase.
6.	Leave ligation products at room temperature for 1 hour.
7.	Transform ligation products into competent cells using appropriate protocol. Incubate on ice for 1 hour if using Zymo competent cells
8.	Plate cells and incubate at 37 degrees overnight. Check for colonies the next day

Gel Protocol

1.	For 7x7 cm, 0.5cm thick gel, with 1.75% agarose Concentration.
2.	Add 0.35 grams of agarose to 20ml of 1x buffer (TBE) Note: Place mark on container to keep track of liquid level using marker, so water can be added to bring the liquid back to original level
3.	Place gel solution in microwave. Use low/medium, set timer for 5 minutes. Stop the oven every 30 seconds and swirl gently to suspend undissolved agarose.
4.	Once dissolved, set aside to cool (~60 degrees). Once solution is warm to touch, add 0.5ug/ml ethidium bromide. [1ul of 10mg/ml]
5.	Pour into casting tray, remember to add in comb at the cathode side (black). Gel will solidify in ~10 mins
6.	Remove comb for solidified gel, remove casting gates and submerge gel beneath 2 to 6mm of 1x buffer.
7.	Mix loading dye with PCR/digested products, load mixture into wells, together with 10ul of ladder
8.	Run gel at 75V for ~1 hour. Adjust voltage accordingly if require faster or more distinct gels.

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Team:Carnegie Mellon/Met-Protocols

From 2012.igem.org