Team:Tsinghua/Result2

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Home Background Brainstorming Design Experiment Results Conclusion Protocol


Construction and Characterization of Therapeutic DNA

Map of the Therapeutic DNA

The map of the Therapeutic DNA is listed above. It contains a incorporated cos site, O and P genes for replication and RFP expression segment. We should note that the RFP expression module in this Therapeutic DNA is downstream a prokaryotic promoter, which enable us to trace the function of the Therapeutic DNA according to red fluorescence. However, when applied to clinical use, the RFP expression segment can be replaced by the real therapeutic genes.

Agarose Gel Electrophoresis of Therapeutic DNA
PCR identification of cos site in Therapeutic DNA

We have completed the construction of Therapeutic DNA and proved that it contains the cos site for the package into the GenSniper virion through PCR.

RFP Expression of Therapeutic DNA. A. after 20h culture of bacteria containing Therapeutic DNA, the culture media turned red; B. Amp Plate with bacteria containing Therapeutic DNA; C. Kan Plate with bacteria containing Therapeutic DNA

In theory, the therapeutic DNA should enable the bacteria containing it to express RFP. Fortunately, the red fluorescent was so strong to be observed via naked eyes. Also, fluorescence microscopy confirmed our observation.

Since the original Part_J61031 contains both Kan and Amp resistance, which will render the incompatibility for Therapeutic DNA and pET-28a-based constructs, we cut the region of Kan-Amp resistance on the molecular level and reconstructed a cosmid with only Amp resistance. B shows the plate with Amp and Therapeutic DNA transformed E.coli. C shows the plate with Kan and Therapeutic DNA transformed E.coli. These results suggests that the single resistance "cosmid" has been successfully constructed.

Red fluorescence identification of therapeutic DNA containing bacteria by fluorescence microscopy. Excitation is wide-spectrum. A. Bright Field; B. Red fluorescence identification at the same field.

Co-Functioning of Therapeutic DNA with GenSniper Genome

Co-tranformation between Therapeutic DNA and either or both linkage groups (or plasmids) indicates anticipated results. However, the concentration of antibiotics should be slightly modified. Since these modification will not allow the control groups to grow, we confirmed that the co-transformed strains were mostly positive.

Co-tranformation between Therapeutic DNA (cosmid) and GenSniper genome(pET+pAC,both of them encoding the GenSniper genes). A.transformed cells with pAC+cosmid can grow at 1/2Cm+Amp plate, the red colonies indicates a functional Therapeutic DNA; B.transformed cells with cosmid cannot grow at 1/2Cm+Amp plate; C.transformed cells with pET+cosmid can grow at 1/2Kan+Amp plate, the red colonies indicates a functional Therapeutic DNA;D.transformed cells with cosmid cannot grow at 1/2Kan+Amp plate. pET is the short form of pET-28a+Nu1+A+W+B, pAC is the short form of pACYCDuet-1+lysis+C+D+E+FI+FII, cosmid equals Therapeutic DNA
Co-tranformation of Therapeutic DNA, pET-28a+Nu1+A+W+B and pACYCDuet-1+lysis+C+D+E+FI+FII. The transformed cells can grow at plate with Amp+1/3Kan+1/3Cm. This result can be enhanced by liquid media culture. The red colonies indicates a functional Therapeutic DNA
Control groups of Therapeutic DNA and entire GenSniper genome co-tranformation. A.Transformation of Therapeutic DNA only; B.Transformation of pET-28a+Nu1+A+W+B only; C.Transformation of pACYCDuet-1+lysis+C+D+E+FI+FII only

The next crucial step is that Theraputic DNA can be packaged into the GenSniper genome. As showed in the results of Module I, we have gained the desired the GenSniper virion without Therapeutic DNA packaging. When we further co-transformed the GenSniper genome and Therapeutic DNA for GenSniper virion production with the packaged DNA, the purified solution also contains the desired protein complex. We also tested a control group where the empty vectors pET-28a and pACYCDuet-1 were introduced into BL21 DE3 strain.

Electronic spectroscopy picture of the GenSniper virion with Therapeutic DNA package and without Targeted Biobrick modification
Electronic spectroscopy picture of the control group

Interestingly, when we pick up colonies from the triple-antibiotics plate after co-tranformation of Therapeutic DNA, pET-28a+Nu1+A+W+B and pACYCDuet-1+lysis+C+D+E+FI+FII, the true positive colonies (of course there were some false positive) can grow in the liquid media with triple-antibiotics, but the media did not change red. The color of the liquid media of co-transformed strain seemed to be slightly darker than the control group. However, after centrofugation, the deposit of the cells shows obvious red color, which undoubtedly proved the presence of Therapeutic DNA.

Liquid media color comparason between co-transformed strain of GenSniper genome and Therapeutic DNA
cell deposit of co-transformed strain of GenSniper genome and Therapeutic DNA

In addition, PCR identification of cos site indicates positive result. However, the positive result indicates that a stuffer seems to be unnecessary for the package of Therapeutic DNA in the GenSniper Virion, while the wildtype bacteriophage lambda can only package the circular DNA with the length between 40-50 kb. According to the negative controls, the non-specific DNA or other molecules would be very unlikely to give rise to this correct band with such a high specificity. So whether or not Therapeutic DNA needs a stuffer is still unclear.

PCR identification of cos site. PCR identification of GenSniper extract after protease digestion. cn, control group using water for PCR; vcn, control group using protease digested extract from empty double vector; cos, Therapeutic DNA or constructed cosmid; vcos, protease digested extract of GenSniper vioirn with Therapeutic DNA. The desired band is about 0.3 kb, which contains the cos site and adjacent sequences

In conclusion, we have successfully built Therapeutic DNA able to co-function with GenSniper genome and generated the desired GenSniper virions with Therapeutic DNA packaged into them. However, some of the experimental details worth further exploring.