Team:Peking/Project/Luminesensor/Characterization

From 2012.igem.org

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  <h3 class="title1">Sensitivity</h3>
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  <h3 id="title1">Sensitivity</h3>
  <p>
  <p>
<b>1. Set-up & Brief Procedure</b><br/>
<b>1. Set-up & Brief Procedure</b><br/>
-
We tested the sensitivity of <i>Luminesensor</i> by examine the light-dependent  transcriptional activity of a GFP-ssrA reporter. ssrA is a protein tag that induces fast degradation of protein, which in our case facilitated the observation of transcriptional activity. Based on the consideration of guaranteeing accuracy and precision, our setup (Figure 2):</p>
+
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
We tested the sensitivity of the <i>Luminesensor</i> by examining the light-dependent  transcriptional activity of a GFP-ssrA reporter. ssrA is a protein tag that induces fast degradation of protein, which in our case facilitated the observation of transcriptional activity. Based on the consideration of guaranteed accuracy and precision, our setup (Figure 1) is shown below:</p>
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  <div class="floatC">
  <div class="floatC">
   <img src="/wiki/images/a/a4/Peking2012_luminesensor_sen_div.jpg" alt="Figure 2" style="width:500px"/>
   <img src="/wiki/images/a/a4/Peking2012_luminesensor_sen_div.jpg" alt="Figure 2" style="width:500px"/>
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   <p class="description">Figure 2. The setup we utilized to characterize the sensitivity of cells harboring <i>Luminesensor</i></p>
+
   <p class="description">Figure 1. The setup we utilized to characterize the sensitivity of cells harboring the <i>Luminesensor</i></p>
  </div>
  </div>
-
  <p>consists of three central parts: light source, incubator and 48-well plate.  On account of high sensitivity, protecting the system from the preventable light exposure with the purpose of acquiring the accurate results which is the true reflection of our sensitivity is necessary. In order to solve the problems, we focus on two foremost aspects: utilizing attenuators to weaken the light intensity and using tin foil to avoid light leakage. For more details about how we conducting the experiment, see experiment procedures. In our experiments, illumination with different light intensity conditions at 460nm peak light from blue LED arrays for 16 hours show marked light-depressed reporter gene transcription, which indicates that under different blue light exposure conditions, there was hardly any light-induced reporter gene transcriptional activity. But when in the dark environment (packaged with three layers of aluminum foil), our systems showed extremely high GFP expression (Figure 3)</p>
+
 
 +
 
 +
  <p>Our setup consisted of three central parts: light source, incubator, and 48-well plate.  On account of high sensitivity, it is necessary to protect the system from the preventable light exposure with the purpose of acquiring the accurate results which is the true reflection of our sensitivity. In order to solve the problems, we focus on two foremost aspects: 1) utilizing attenuators to weaken the light intensity, and 2) using tin foil to avoid light leakage.  
 +
 
 +
In our experiments, illumination with different light intensity conditions at 460nm peak light from blue LED arrays for 16 hours show marked light-depressed reporter gene transcription, which indicates that under different blue light exposure conditions, there was hardly any light-induced reporter gene transcriptional activity. But when in the dark environment (packaged with three layers of aluminum foil), our systems showed extremely high GFP expression (Figure 2).</p>
 +
 
 +
 
  <div class="floatC">
  <div class="floatC">
   <img src="/wiki/images/f/fa/Peking2012_gfp_expression_2.jpg" alt="Figure 3" />
   <img src="/wiki/images/f/fa/Peking2012_gfp_expression_2.jpg" alt="Figure 3" />
-
   <p class="description">Figure 3. GFP expression was repressed by Blue LED light and presented normally in the dark.</p>
+
   <p class="description">Figure 2. GFP expression was repressed by Blue LED light and presented normally in the dark.</p>
  </div>
  </div>
-
<p>There are a couple of plausible and conceivable reasons for why our system possesses such high sensitivity that can sense unbelievably weak light intensity. First, it includes the unusually stable, photo-activated state of VVD, which causes the system to be extremely sensitive to light. Secondly, without relying on the addition of chromophores, which might impede the growth of cells, our system can directly regulate gene expression without trade-off.<br/><br/>
 
-
<b>2. Results and Conclusions</b><br/>
 
-
Cells exposed to different light intensity expressing <i>Luminesensor</i> showed manifest light-repressed reporter gene transcription. As shown in the figure, all of the cells with dissimilar attenuators showed incredible repression efficiency (figure 4: luminance measurement of different attenuator). <p>
+
<p>There are a few plausible and conceivable reasons for why our system possesses such high sensitivity that can sense unbelievably weak light intensity. Firstly, it includes the unusually stable, photo-activated state of VVD, which causes the system to be extremely sensitive to light. Secondly, without relying on the addition of chromophores, which might impede the growth of cells, our system can directly regulate gene expression without trade-off.<br/><br/>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
<b>2. Quantitative Result</b><br/>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Cells exposed to different light intensity expressing the <i>Luminesensor</i> showed manifest light-repressed reporter gene transcription. As shown in Figure 3, all of the cells with dissimilar attenuators showed incredible repression efficiency. <p>
 +
 
 +
 
  <div class="floatC">
  <div class="floatC">
   <img src="/wiki/images/a/a8/Peking2012_Luminesensor_sensitivity_2.png" alt="Figure 4" style="width:500px"/>
   <img src="/wiki/images/a/a8/Peking2012_Luminesensor_sensitivity_2.png" alt="Figure 4" style="width:500px"/>
-
   <p class="description">Figure 4.  luminance attenuation using different attenuators could also be sensed by <i>Luminesensor<i/>, which is much dimmer than natural light.</p>
+
   <p class="description">Figure 3.  luminance attenuation using different attenuators could also be sensed by the <i>Luminesensor</i>, which is much dimmer than natural light.</p>
  </div>
  </div>
-
  <p>It proves that once the cells are exposed to natural light, the transcription of reporter gene will be strongly repressed, although still presents as a dose response. Besides, in the negative control group, which was entirely in the dark state, the expression of GFP ran up to a high degree of 50,000. As a matter of fact, as you can see later in "<a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:Peking/Project/Communication/Results">Results</a> of light communication between cells", when we serially diluted light-emitting cells which expresses bacterial luciferase, the cells expressing <i>Luminesensor</i> presents significant dose response. Taking everything into account, our luminesensor does possess high sensitivity across several orders of magnitude. <br/><br/>We are impartially proud of accomplishing the goal of controlling gene expression using light without excessive or unnecessary energy or substrates, and we have respectable and appropriate reasons to have complete faith in our <i>Luminesensor</i> that it has imposed specific innovative challenges of light-dependent process for the future researchers.</p>
+
 
 +
  <p>It proves that once the cells are exposed to natural light, the transcription of reporter genes will be strongly repressed, although still present as a dose response. Besides, in the negative control group, which was entirely in the dark state, the expression of GFP ran up to a high degree of 50,000. As a matter of fact, as you can see later in "<a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:Peking/Project/Communication/Results">Results of light communication between cells</a>", when we serially diluted light-emitting cells which express bacterial luciferase, the cells expressing the <i>Luminesensor</i> present significant dose response. Taking everything into account, our <i>Luminesensor</i> does possess high sensitivity across several orders of magnitude. <br/><br/>
 +
</p>
</div>
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<div class="PKU_context floatR">
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  <h3 class="title2">Orthogonality Test</h3>
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  <h3 id="title2">Orthogonality Test</h3>
  <p>
  <p>
-
It is our biggest concern whether lexA408 <i>Luminesensor</i> works independently of endogenous LexA. If yes, maximizing its biological orthogonality will make <i>Luminesensor</i> a really plug-and-play device. <br/><br/>
 
-
Two sections of testing expriments were carried out simultaneously. GFP was selected as a reporter and was fused downstream to 2 promoters (psulA408 and precA408) controlled by <i>Luminesensor</i> with 408 mutation and to 2 promoters (psulA and precA) controlled by <i>Luminesensor</i> without mutation. GFP expression is expected to have a negative relation with repression activity. To be more specific, higher level of green fluorescent indicates weaker repression effect; lower expression of GFP stands for stronger repression. <br/><br/>
+
Two sections of testing expriments were carried out. GFP was selected as a reporter and was fused downstream to two promoters (psulA408 and precA408) controlled by the <i>Luminesensor</i> with the 408 mutation and to two promoters (psulA and precA) controlled by the <i>Luminesensor</i> without the mutation. GFP expression is expected to have a negative relation with repression activity. To be more specific, higher level of green fluorescent indicates weaker repression effect; lower expression of GFP stands for stronger repression. <br/><br/>
-
<b>1. Experimental Design</b><br/>
 
-
To prove the orthogonality, facts that LexA408-VVD and endogenous LexA work totally independently are needed. Considering practical efficiency, 2 points of evidence are to collect:</p>
+
 
 +
 
 +
<b>1. Experimental Design(Figure 4)</b><br/>
 +
 
 +
To prove the orthogonality, data and facts to prove that LexA408-VVD and the endogenous LexA work totally independently are needed. Considering the practical efficiency, two points of evidence were to be collected:</p>
  <ul><li>1.  Promoters psulA and precA are repressed in wild-type <i>Ecoli</i> strains while promoters psulA408 and precA408 are not blocked in wild-type strains;
  <ul><li>1.  Promoters psulA and precA are repressed in wild-type <i>Ecoli</i> strains while promoters psulA408 and precA408 are not blocked in wild-type strains;
-
  </li><li>2. LexA408-VVD <i>Luminesensor</i> efficiently represses its target under blue illumination, while it does not repress targets in total dark.
+
 
 +
  </li><li>2. LexA408-VVD-<i>Luminesensor</i> efficiently represses its target under blue illumination, while it does not repress targets in total darkness.
  </li></ul>
  </li></ul>
  <div class="floatC">
  <div class="floatC">
   <img src="/wiki/images/3/39/Peking2012_demonstration_of_orthogonal_result.png" alt="Figure 5" style="width:480px;"/>
   <img src="/wiki/images/3/39/Peking2012_demonstration_of_orthogonal_result.png" alt="Figure 5" style="width:480px;"/>
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   <p class="description">Figure 5. Shows observable color of plates where cell cultures growing under totally dark or light conditions. Different colors are used to indicate three levels of GFP expression.</p>
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   <p class="description">Figure 4. Shows observable color of plates where cell cultures growing under totally dark or light conditions. Different colors are used to indicate three levels of GFP expression.</p>
  </div>
  </div>
  <p><b>2. Detailed Methods</b><br/>
  <p><b>2. Detailed Methods</b><br/>
-
Experiments were carried out in parallel: taking photos of plates as visual evidence; measuring GFP to quatitify the effect. Detailed protocols are as follows:<p>
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 +
 
 +
Experiments were carried out in parallel -- taking photos of the plates as visual evidence and measuring GFP to quantify the effect. Detailed protocols are as follows:<p>
  <ul><li>1. Visible display:
  <ul><li>1. Visible display:
  </li><li>
  </li><li>
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<ul><li>Inoculate a single colony into 1.5ml centifuge tube, shaking cultivate cells at 250 rpm/min for 2-3 h at 30℃, then the cell culture are prepared for streaking;
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<ul><li>Inoculate a single colony into 1.5ml centifuge tube, shaking cultivate cells at 250 rpm/min for 2-3 h at 30℃, then the cell culture is ready for streaking;
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</li><li>Streak cell culture onto right plates;
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</li><li>Streak cell culture onto respective plates;
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</li><li>Ioncubate in totally dark and light state at 30℃ for 1 or 2 days;
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</li><li>Incubate in total darkness and under light state at 30℃ for 1 or 2 days;
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</li><li>Take photos of right plates;
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</li><li>Take photos of correct plates;
</li></ul>
</li></ul>
  </li><li>2. Data collection:  
  </li><li>2. Data collection:  
  </li><li>
  </li><li>
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<ul><li>Inoculate a proper colony in liquid media;
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<ul><li>Inoculate a proper single colony into liquid media;
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</li><li>Shaking cultivate cells until platform stage at 30 ℃;
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</li><li>Cultivate cells in a shaking state until platform stage at 30 ℃;
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</li><li>Dilute celll cultures with selective media in proportion of 1:500;
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</li><li>Dilute cell cultures with selective media at a ratio of 1:500;
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</li><li>Shaking cultivate cells until platform stage at 30 ℃ in fully dark or under blue light;
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</li><li>Cultivate cells in a shaking state until the stationary stage at 30 ℃ in complete darkness or under blue light;
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</li><li>Harvest cells by centrifugation, resuspend pellets in PBS;
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</li><li>Harvest cells by centrifugation, then re-suspend pellets in PBS;
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</li><li>Measuring GFP expression with 96-well-microplate reader;
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</li><li>Measure GFP expression with 96-well-microplate reader;
</li></ul>
</li></ul>
  </li>
  </li>
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  <p><b>3. Results</b><br/>
  <p><b>3. Results</b><br/>
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Below is a collage of our plates. The plates are placed in groups at 30℃ in either total dark or blue illumination. Visual results fit well with Figure 1.Visual look of plates were positive evidence for us.</p>
+
Below is a collage of our plates. The plates are placed in groups at 30℃ in either total darkness or under blue-light illumination. Visual results fit well with Figure 4. Visual appearance of the plates were positive evidence for us.</p>
  <div class="floatC">
  <div class="floatC">
   <img src="/wiki/images/4/49/Peking2012_orthogonality_plate_group1_correction.png" alt="Figure 6(1)." style="width:500px;"/>
   <img src="/wiki/images/4/49/Peking2012_orthogonality_plate_group1_correction.png" alt="Figure 6(1)." style="width:500px;"/>
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   <p class="description">Figure 6(1). Plate streaked with wild type <i>E.coli</i> transformed with wild type luminesensor and GFP fused to LexA responsive promoters, and cultivated in the dark (A), or under light (B). Evidently there is no GFP expression, indicating that endogenous LexA proteins are capable of fully repress the expression of our wild type reporter gene, rendering our luminesensor system no longer light-controllable. </p>
+
   <p class="description">Figure 5(1). Plate streaked with wild type <i>E.coli</i> transformed with wild type <i>Luminesensor</i> and GFP fused to LexA responsive promoters, and cultivated in the dark (A), or under light (B). Evidently there is no GFP expression, indicating that endogenous LexA proteins are capable of fully repress the expression of our wild type reporter gene, rendering our <i>Luminesensor</i> system no longer light-controllable. </p>
  </div>
  </div>
  <div class="floatC">
  <div class="floatC">
<img src="/wiki/images/8/88/Peking2012_orthogonality_plate_group2.png" alt="Figure 6(2)." style="width:500px;"/>
<img src="/wiki/images/8/88/Peking2012_orthogonality_plate_group2.png" alt="Figure 6(2)." style="width:500px;"/>
-
<p class="description">Figure 6(2). Plate streaked with wild type <i>E.coli</i> transformed with GFP gene fused to the downstream of psulA408 (A) and precA408 (B). Evidently GFP is perfectly expressed, indicating endogenous LexA proteins are unable to bind to psulA408 and precA408, which suggested that the 408 promoter system is orthogonal to the endogenous SOS system.</p>
+
<p class="description">Figure 5(2). Plate streaked with wild type <i>E.coli</i> transformed with GFP gene fused to the downstream of psulA408 (A) and precA408 (B). Evidently GFP is perfectly expressed, indicating endogenous LexA proteins are unable to bind to psulA408 and precA408, which suggested that the 408 promoter system is orthogonal to the endogenous SOS system.</p>
  </div>
  </div>
<div class="floatC">
<div class="floatC">
<img src="/wiki/images/e/e7/Peking2012_orthogonality_plate_group3.png" alt="Figure 6(3)." style="width:500px;"/>
<img src="/wiki/images/e/e7/Peking2012_orthogonality_plate_group3.png" alt="Figure 6(3)." style="width:500px;"/>
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<p class="description">Figure 6(3). Plate streaked with wild type <i>E.coli</i> transformed with mutated luminesensor and  precA408-GFP or psulA408-GFP reporter gene and cultivated in the dark or under light.(A: luminesensor + precA408-GFP, cultivated in the dark. B: luminesensor + precA408-GFP, cultivated under light. C: luminesensor + psulA408-GFP, cultivated in the dark. D: luminesensor + psulA408-GFP, cultivated under light.) Just as we predicted, the reporter gene is expressed in the dark and supressed by our luminesensor under light. This clearly proved that our 408 system is orthogonal to bacteria SOS system while retaining light-controllability.</p>
+
<p class="description">Figure 5(3). Plate streaked with wild type <i>E.coli</i> transformed with mutated luminesensor and  precA408-GFP or psulA408-GFP reporter gene and cultivated in the dark or under light.(A: luminesensor + precA408-GFP, cultivated in the dark. B: luminesensor + precA408-GFP, cultivated under light. C: luminesensor + psulA408-GFP, cultivated in the dark. D: luminesensor + psulA408-GFP, cultivated under light.) Just as we predicted, the reporter gene is expressed in the dark and supressed by our luminesensor under light. This clearly proved that our 408 system is orthogonal to bacteria SOS system while retaining light-controllability.</p>
  </div>
  </div>
-
  <p>Apart from those photos, more accurate results were obtained with Fluorescent Microplate Reader. Below are histograms based on our experimmental data. They clarify how fluoresence changes with lighting condition in different strains.</p>
+
  <p>Apart from those photos, more accurate results were obtained with Fluorescent Microplate Reader. Below are histograms based on our experimmental data. They clarify how fluoresence changes with lighting condition in different strains(Figure 6).</p>
  <div class="floatC">
  <div class="floatC">
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   <img src="/wiki/images/4/4b/Peking2012_precA408-GFP_fluorescence_with_axis.png" alt="Figure 7" style="width:500px;" />
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   <img src="/wiki/images/4/44/Peking2012_precA408-GFP_with_axis_correction1.png" alt="Figure 7" style="width:600px;" />
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   <p class="description">Figure 7(1). GFP expression level under control of precA408 promoter. Column 1 shows expression of precA-GFP reporter gene when transformed into wild-type <i>E.coli</i> without luminesensor. The high expression level indicates that the 408 reporter system is not interfered by endogenous LexA protein. The column 2 and column 3 are expression level of precA-GFP reporter gene co-transformed with our 408 form luminesensor into wild-type <i>E.coli</i>, and cultivated under light (column 2), or under light (column 3). The low expression level under light and hign expression level in the dark indicate that our 408 luminesensor system is totally light-controllable, and possessing a high dynamic range.</p>
+
   <p class="description">Figure 6(1). GFP expression level under control of precA408 promoter. Column 1 shows expression of precA-GFP reporter gene when transformed into wild-type <i>E.coli</i> without luminesensor. The high expression level indicates that the 408 reporter system is not interfered by endogenous LexA protein. The column 2 and column 3 are expression level of precA-GFP reporter gene co-transformed with our 408 form luminesensor into wild-type <i>E.coli</i>, and cultivated under light (column 2), or under light (column 3). The low expression level under light and hign expression level in the dark indicate that our 408 luminesensor system is totally light-controllable, and possessing a high dynamic range.</p>
  </div>
  </div>
<div class="floatC">
<div class="floatC">
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  <img src="/wiki/images/7/7d/Peking2012_psulA408-GFP_fluorescence_with_axis.png" alt="Figure 7" style="width:500px;" />
+
  <img src="/wiki/images/9/95/Peking2012_psulA408-GFP_fluorescence_with_axis1.png" alt="Figure 7" style="width:600px;" />
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<p class="description">Figure 7(2). GFP expression level under control of psulA408 promoter. Every column shows data acquired under conditions same as its conterpart in Figure 7(1). The only difference is that the precA408 promoter has been replaced by psulA408 promoter.</p>
+
<p class="description">Figure 6(2). GFP expression level under control of psulA408 promoter. Every column shows data acquired under conditions same as its conterpart in Figure 7(1). The only difference is that the precA408 promoter has been replaced by psulA408 promoter.</p>
  </div>
  </div>
-
  <p>It repeartedly turned out that:</p>
+
  <p>It repeatedly turned out that:
-
  <ul><li>1.  reporters under wild-type promoters (psulA and precA) hardly express in either illuminated or dark state; their colonies are yellow. In contrast, GFPs fused to promoters psulA408 and precA408 were not blocked in strains, thus they looks bright green.
+
  <br /><br />
-
  </li><li>2. BL21 (DE3) strains expressing both <i>Luminesensor</i> and its reporters twist swiftly and sensitively from one states to the other, giving high definition output including lighting condition.
+
1.  reporters under wild-type promoters (psulA and precA) hardly expressed in either illuminated or dark state; their colonies are yellow. In contrast, GFPs fused to promoters psulA408 and precA408 were not blocked in strains, thus they looks bright green.
-
  </li></ul>
+
  <br /><br />
-
<p>To sum up, LexA408-VVD <i>Luminesensor</i> works independently of host genetic context.  
+
2. BL21 (DE3) strains expressing both the <i>Luminesensor</i> and its reporters shifted swiftly and sensitively from one states to the other, giving high definition output including lighting condition.
 +
  <br /><br />
 +
To sum up, LexA408-VVD-<i>Luminesensor</i> works independently of host genetic context.  
  </p>
  </p>
</div>
</div>
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<div class="PKU_context floatR">
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<h3 class="title3">Improving Dynamic Performance</h3>
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<p>To test whether our designated mutations would improve the dynamic performance of <i>Luminesensor</i> in respect to reversibility and the on/off ratio, we co-transformed the psulA-GFP (GFP driven by luminesensor repressible promoter psulA) plasmid with four versions of <i>Luminesensor</i> plasmid into BL21 (&Delta;LexA &Delta;SulA): the original LexA-VVD(WT), LexA-VVD(I74V), LexA-VVD(M135I), and LexA-VVD(I74V+M135I). Resulted four strains were designated as LV-WT, LV-74, LV-135, LV-74-135, respectively. The overnight culture of the four strains were diluted 500 times and divided into two groups: one exposed to blue light and the completely wrapped with aluminum foil. After incubation for 16 hours, GFP expression levels were measured. As shown in figure below, LV-135 has an increased on/off ratio compared to the original LexA-VVD, while the LV-74 and LV-74-135 show reduced on/off ratios, which is in accordance with our modeling result.</p>
+
-
<div class="floatC">
+
-
  <img src="/wiki/images/2/2b/Peking2012_luminesensor_wiki.png" alt="Figure 8" />
+
-
  <p class="description">Figure 8. Effects of introduced mutations on the contrast (on/off ratio) of <i>Luminesensor</i>.</p>
+
-
</div>
+
-
<p>In order to determine whether the LexA-VVD(M135I) <i>Luminesensor</i> has enhanced reversibility in comparison to the original LexA-VVD, the temporal change of GFP expression level of dilated overnight culture of the strains LV-WT and LV-135 under blue light were measured at 2 hour intervals for 26 hours. As shown in figure below, the GFP expression level of both of the two strains began to rise after incubating at dark for about 10 hour. We speculated that the GFP expression level of the two strains is mainly determined by the equilibrium between GFP production and degradation and the dimerized LexA-VVD(WT) and LexA-VVD(135) dissociate in a shorter time scale compared to the time needed to establish the equilibrium of the GFP production and degradation.</p>
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-
<div class="floatC">
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-
  <img src="/wiki/images/b/ba/Peking2012_luminesensor_opt_time_rfp.jpg" alt="Figure 10" style="width:600px"/>
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  <p class="description">Figure 9. The time course of GFP expression controlled by LV-WT and LV-135</p>
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-
</div>
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-
<div class="floatC">
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-
  <img src="/wiki/images/7/77/Peking2012_luminesensor_opt_result.png" alt="Figure 10" style="width:600px"/>
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  <p class="description">Figure 9. The time course of GFP expression controlled by LV-WT and LV-135</p>
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-
</div>
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-
</div>
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<div class="PKU_context floatR">
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  <h3 class="title4">Conclusion</h3>
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  <p>In the end, we have finally acquired final version of <i>Luminesensor</i> that will function as a transcription repressor in response to blue light. And since we have introduced mutations into LexA DNA binding domain, the <i>Luminesensor</i> proved orthogonal to host genetic context. Futher introduced mutations in VVD photosensitive domain significantly improved the dynamic range of our optogenetic module. Equipped with this optimized LexA408-VVD74 <i>Luminesensor</i>, we are now able to apply it  to practices, such as 2D bio-printing and cell-cell communication through light, as you will see later.</p>
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</div>
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<div class="PKU_context floatR">
<div class="PKU_context floatR">
  <h3 id="title5">Reference</h3>
  <h3 id="title5">Reference</h3>

Latest revision as of 13:20, 26 October 2012

Sensitivity

1. Set-up & Brief Procedure
We tested the sensitivity of the Luminesensor by examining the light-dependent transcriptional activity of a GFP-ssrA reporter. ssrA is a protein tag that induces fast degradation of protein, which in our case facilitated the observation of transcriptional activity. Based on the consideration of guaranteed accuracy and precision, our setup (Figure 1) is shown below:

Figure 2

Figure 1. The setup we utilized to characterize the sensitivity of cells harboring the Luminesensor

Our setup consisted of three central parts: light source, incubator, and 48-well plate. On account of high sensitivity, it is necessary to protect the system from the preventable light exposure with the purpose of acquiring the accurate results which is the true reflection of our sensitivity. In order to solve the problems, we focus on two foremost aspects: 1) utilizing attenuators to weaken the light intensity, and 2) using tin foil to avoid light leakage. In our experiments, illumination with different light intensity conditions at 460nm peak light from blue LED arrays for 16 hours show marked light-depressed reporter gene transcription, which indicates that under different blue light exposure conditions, there was hardly any light-induced reporter gene transcriptional activity. But when in the dark environment (packaged with three layers of aluminum foil), our systems showed extremely high GFP expression (Figure 2).

Figure 3

Figure 2. GFP expression was repressed by Blue LED light and presented normally in the dark.

There are a few plausible and conceivable reasons for why our system possesses such high sensitivity that can sense unbelievably weak light intensity. Firstly, it includes the unusually stable, photo-activated state of VVD, which causes the system to be extremely sensitive to light. Secondly, without relying on the addition of chromophores, which might impede the growth of cells, our system can directly regulate gene expression without trade-off.

2. Quantitative Result
Cells exposed to different light intensity expressing the Luminesensor showed manifest light-repressed reporter gene transcription. As shown in Figure 3, all of the cells with dissimilar attenuators showed incredible repression efficiency.

Figure 4

Figure 3. luminance attenuation using different attenuators could also be sensed by the Luminesensor, which is much dimmer than natural light.

It proves that once the cells are exposed to natural light, the transcription of reporter genes will be strongly repressed, although still present as a dose response. Besides, in the negative control group, which was entirely in the dark state, the expression of GFP ran up to a high degree of 50,000. As a matter of fact, as you can see later in "Results of light communication between cells", when we serially diluted light-emitting cells which express bacterial luciferase, the cells expressing the Luminesensor present significant dose response. Taking everything into account, our Luminesensor does possess high sensitivity across several orders of magnitude.

Orthogonality Test

Two sections of testing expriments were carried out. GFP was selected as a reporter and was fused downstream to two promoters (psulA408 and precA408) controlled by the Luminesensor with the 408 mutation and to two promoters (psulA and precA) controlled by the Luminesensor without the mutation. GFP expression is expected to have a negative relation with repression activity. To be more specific, higher level of green fluorescent indicates weaker repression effect; lower expression of GFP stands for stronger repression.

1. Experimental Design(Figure 4)
To prove the orthogonality, data and facts to prove that LexA408-VVD and the endogenous LexA work totally independently are needed. Considering the practical efficiency, two points of evidence were to be collected:

  • 1. Promoters psulA and precA are repressed in wild-type Ecoli strains while promoters psulA408 and precA408 are not blocked in wild-type strains;
  • 2. LexA408-VVD-Luminesensor efficiently represses its target under blue illumination, while it does not repress targets in total darkness.
Figure 5

Figure 4. Shows observable color of plates where cell cultures growing under totally dark or light conditions. Different colors are used to indicate three levels of GFP expression.

2. Detailed Methods
Experiments were carried out in parallel -- taking photos of the plates as visual evidence and measuring GFP to quantify the effect. Detailed protocols are as follows:

  • 1. Visible display:
    • Inoculate a single colony into 1.5ml centifuge tube, shaking cultivate cells at 250 rpm/min for 2-3 h at 30℃, then the cell culture is ready for streaking;
    • Streak cell culture onto respective plates;
    • Incubate in total darkness and under light state at 30℃ for 1 or 2 days;
    • Take photos of correct plates;
  • 2. Data collection:
    • Inoculate a proper single colony into liquid media;
    • Cultivate cells in a shaking state until platform stage at 30 ℃;
    • Dilute cell cultures with selective media at a ratio of 1:500;
    • Cultivate cells in a shaking state until the stationary stage at 30 ℃ in complete darkness or under blue light;
    • Harvest cells by centrifugation, then re-suspend pellets in PBS;
    • Measure GFP expression with 96-well-microplate reader;

3. Results
Below is a collage of our plates. The plates are placed in groups at 30℃ in either total darkness or under blue-light illumination. Visual results fit well with Figure 4. Visual appearance of the plates were positive evidence for us.

Figure 6(1).

Figure 5(1). Plate streaked with wild type E.coli transformed with wild type Luminesensor and GFP fused to LexA responsive promoters, and cultivated in the dark (A), or under light (B). Evidently there is no GFP expression, indicating that endogenous LexA proteins are capable of fully repress the expression of our wild type reporter gene, rendering our Luminesensor system no longer light-controllable.

Figure 6(2).

Figure 5(2). Plate streaked with wild type E.coli transformed with GFP gene fused to the downstream of psulA408 (A) and precA408 (B). Evidently GFP is perfectly expressed, indicating endogenous LexA proteins are unable to bind to psulA408 and precA408, which suggested that the 408 promoter system is orthogonal to the endogenous SOS system.

Figure 6(3).

Figure 5(3). Plate streaked with wild type E.coli transformed with mutated luminesensor and precA408-GFP or psulA408-GFP reporter gene and cultivated in the dark or under light.(A: luminesensor + precA408-GFP, cultivated in the dark. B: luminesensor + precA408-GFP, cultivated under light. C: luminesensor + psulA408-GFP, cultivated in the dark. D: luminesensor + psulA408-GFP, cultivated under light.) Just as we predicted, the reporter gene is expressed in the dark and supressed by our luminesensor under light. This clearly proved that our 408 system is orthogonal to bacteria SOS system while retaining light-controllability.

Apart from those photos, more accurate results were obtained with Fluorescent Microplate Reader. Below are histograms based on our experimmental data. They clarify how fluoresence changes with lighting condition in different strains(Figure 6).

Figure 7

Figure 6(1). GFP expression level under control of precA408 promoter. Column 1 shows expression of precA-GFP reporter gene when transformed into wild-type E.coli without luminesensor. The high expression level indicates that the 408 reporter system is not interfered by endogenous LexA protein. The column 2 and column 3 are expression level of precA-GFP reporter gene co-transformed with our 408 form luminesensor into wild-type E.coli, and cultivated under light (column 2), or under light (column 3). The low expression level under light and hign expression level in the dark indicate that our 408 luminesensor system is totally light-controllable, and possessing a high dynamic range.

Figure 7

Figure 6(2). GFP expression level under control of psulA408 promoter. Every column shows data acquired under conditions same as its conterpart in Figure 7(1). The only difference is that the precA408 promoter has been replaced by psulA408 promoter.

It repeatedly turned out that:

1. reporters under wild-type promoters (psulA and precA) hardly expressed in either illuminated or dark state; their colonies are yellow. In contrast, GFPs fused to promoters psulA408 and precA408 were not blocked in strains, thus they looks bright green.

2. BL21 (DE3) strains expressing both the Luminesensor and its reporters shifted swiftly and sensitively from one states to the other, giving high definition output including lighting condition.

To sum up, LexA408-VVD-Luminesensor works independently of host genetic context.

Reference

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