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Characterization
pucB/A
pucB/A are the genes that code for the beta and alpha subunits of the light harvesting complex LH2. Here, we measured the expression level of pucB/A from the puc promoter in the genome vs. on a low copy plasmid, pRKCBC3. This data allows us to utilize pucB/A as a reporter gene for expression from promoters, in complement to its role in cellular growth.
Method
Relative LH2 expression in R. sphaeroides 2.4.1, R. sphaeroides DBCΩ and R. sphaeroides DBCΩ pRKCBC3 grown anaerobically in the dark
Growth conditions:
-Cultures grown in the dark at 34° C, shaking at 160 rpm
- R. sphaeroides 2.4.1
-15 ml culture in polystyrene tube
-15ml M22 was inoculated with 1ml inoculant with OD600nm = 0.270
- OD600nm (Volume) = 0.270
-Culture was allowed to grow 19hrs
- R. sphaeroides DBCΩ
-15 ml culture in polystyrene tube
-15ml M22 was inoculated with 865ul inoculant with OD600nm = 0.312
- OD600nm (Volume) = 0.270
-Culture was allowed to grow 19hrs
- R. sphaeroides DBCΩ pRKCBC3
-10 ml culture in polystyrene tube
-10 ml M22 tet 5ug/ml was inoculated with loop of R. sphaeroides DBCΩ pRKCBC3 and capped with rubber stopper
-Culture was allowed to grow for 3 days so that density was high enough to get a good reading
Analysis:
Cultures were removed from the incubtor and placed on ice to slow changes in cellular composition. 1 ml was extracted from each culture and a UV-vis absorption spectra of the culture was taken from 300-950 nm.
The optical density of the cultures at 600nm was used to normalize the absorption spectrum by division by this value. Background subtraction of spectrophotometer data was performed in Origin 6.1 Software. A ten-point baseline was created by a "positive peak" algorithm then modified to approximate the scattering curve that falls as the inverse fourth power of wavelength.
Results
Conclusion
This data indicates that pucB/A can be utilized as a reporter gene as the LH2 absorption bands at 800 and 850 nm are not present in the LH2 deficient mutant DBComega. Furthermore, changes in the expression conditions of pucB/A are reflected on the absorption spectrum. In this case, expression is higher when the genes are expressed from the puc promoter within genomic DNA than on plasmid pRKCBC3, despite the fact that pRKCBC3 is maintained at 4-5 copies in a cell.
Puc Promoter
The puc promoterpromotes transcription of the LH2 pucB/A genes naturally in
Rhodobacter sphaeroides. It is important that we are able to compare the transcription rate of the puc promoter in the natural system vs. our mutant system so that we can determine exactly how much efficiency is gained by adding a red light sensor. The absorption spectra of a DBCOmega mutant (LH2 deficient) transformed with pRKCBC3 containing the puc promoter and pucB/A genes will allow us to characterize the puc promoter under high and low oxygen conditions.
More absorption of light at the LH2 spectra peaks normalized to culture OD corresponds with more transcription and vis versa.
Method
Cultures were grown in the dark at 34° C, shaking at 160 rpm. The anaerobic test condition was established by inoculating a 10 ml culture tube with 10 ml M22 tet 5ug/ml with a loop of R. sphaeroides DBCΩ pRKCBC3 and capped with a rubber stopper. The aerobic test condition was established by innoculating a 10 ml culture tube with 5ml M22 tet 5ug/ml with a loop of R. sphaeroides DBCΩ pRKCBC3 and covered with vented cap- the vented cap and relatively low culture volume left significant headroom in the culture for oxygen exchange. Oxygen tension was not able to be quantitatively measured due to the nature of the experiment
For measurement of pucB/A expression from the puc promoter:
Cultures were removed from the incubtor and placed on ice to slow changes in cellular composition. 1 ml was extracted from each culture and a UV-vis absorption spectra of the culture was taken from 300-950 nm.
The optical density of the cultures at 600nm was used to normalize the absorption spectrum by division by this value. Background subtraction of spectrophotometer data was performed in Origin 6.1 Software. A ten-point baseline was created by a "positive peak" algorithm then modified to approximate the scattering curve that falls as the inverse fourth power of wavelength.
Results
Conclusion
This data matches the literature for expression from the puc promoter at different oxygen tensions and as such confirms the assumptions that we have made in modeling our system.
See: Braatsch et al. 2002
Future Characterization
The next step in our characterization of our synthetic red light response system is to analyze changes in phosphorylation of ompR in
Rhodobacter sphaeroides. In our final system, we only want puc genes to be transcribed and expressed via halting the autophosphorylation of ompR, not simply the puc promoter as it naturally occurs. By placing the ompR coding region downstream of the red light sensor and upstream of a terminator our modified system controls expression of the puc genes by the red light sensor. It should be impossible for the puc promoter to directly cause the transcription of puc genes due to the terminator, but instead, transcription of the puc genes must be activated via decreasing the presence of phosphorylated ompR. The end target of ompR transcription is the ompC promoter, located directly upstream of the puc genes. Placing GFP on the ompC transcript will show how often the promoter is transcribed and how often ompR is phoshorylated.
Part three of our characterization measures the effectiveness of the red light sensor in downregulating the phosphorylation of ompR. This setup is identical to that of part two except we have introduced the red light sensor. Now, the rate of ompR autophosphorylation will be halted by binding to a domain on the light-activated EnvZ kinase analogue. GFP is still attached to the end product, the ompC promoter. By comparing the fluorescence of GFP in this scenario compared with the second scenario the decrease in rate of phosphorylation should be apparent due to the activity of the red light sensor.
This is the final construct that will be our actual functioning model in
Rhodobacter sphaeroides. This finished product will be compared to the wild type over various intensities of light and cell culture densities can be compared to see which strain, the wild type or the modified strain with the red light sensor was more efficient in harvesting light with varying intensities.
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Modeling
pucBA Expression Model Diagram
Modeling the Gene Regulatory Network
- Our group seeks to assess the optimality of the synthetic system that modulates pucB/A gene expression and LH2 complex assembly in Rhodobacter sphaeroides. Here we employ a mathematical model of this system to generate predictions about the behavior of the active system in response to light input. Features of the system that the model may help investigate include the time scale of response to light signals, the robustness of the system in response to fluctuations in light intensity, and the translation between changes in gene expression and the absorbance spectrum of the engineered cells.
- Though the context of the model can extend back to the transcription of PrrA/B genes involved in integration oxygen and light signals, a preliminary testing model was developed using assumptions of certain initial conditions to isolate the light signal's effect. Since Cph8 and OmpR are located on the same transcript downstream of the puc promoter region, it was assumed that their associated protein and mRNA had already reached steady state concentrations, and the phosphorylation reaction had already reached steady state. Moreover, the concentrations of the factors were assumed to be equal at this state. The model whose diagram was constructed in the Simbiology Toolbox distributed by MathWorks details key reactions leading to the translation of the pucB/A genes. The reaction rate equation used for the lack of phosphorylation of OmpR when the light signal reaches Cph8 bound to OmpR is captured in a modified form of Michaelis-Menten kinetics. A logic function that corresponds to light ON/OFF (1/0) multiplies the maximum reaction rate in the numerator of the phosphorylation equation. Thus, the model assumes that no phosphorylation occurs by this mechanism in the presence of light. The OmpC promoter binding equation was based on the Hill Equation for an Activator(1).
- Component characterization steps and literature searches are underway in order to obtain quantitative parameters for the reaction rates. In order to simulate behavior of the system, putative values were included that exaggerate true concentrations and time scales. OmpR was given an initial concentration normalized to one, and all other components were assumed insignificant initially to this value. An ideal light pulse was introduced at an instant and removed thirty simulation seconds later. From this rudimentary simulation it can be drawn that the nonlinearities of the phosphorylation and transcription factor binding kinetics effectively smooth the sharp light input. By design, the light switch ON yields no phosphorylation of OmpR and repression of the pucB/A genes which would give rise to LH2. Conversely, when left OFF, the concentration of pucB/A recovers and increases until the steady state determined by its translation and degradation rates.
References
1. Alon, Uri. Introduction to systems biology and the design principles of biological networks. Boca Raton, FL: Chapman & Hall, 2006.
2. Bower, James M. Computational Modeling of Genetic and Biochemical Networks (Computational Molecular Biology). New York: M.I.T. PRESS, 2001.
3. System modeling in cellular biology from concepts to nuts and bolts. Cambridge, MA: MIT P, 2006.
Simulating a Bioreactor
Simulation Equations
Nonlinear least-squares estimation of LH2 saturation curve
Exponential response curve for mutant LH2 saturation coefficients
Problem: In a typical reactor, cells at the surface absorb more than enough light to saturate their photosynthetic apparatus, transmitting less energy to deeper layers. For wild type cells, the “saturation curve” is approximately the same for all cells, regardless of their incident light intensity.
Simulating our Mutants advantage in a Bioreactor
For our mutant cells, this curve scales as a function of light intensity, due to negative regulation of LH2 complex production
Saturation curve: Absorbance as a function of incident light intensity.
The coefficient changes with intensity in the mutant only.
Assumptions:
- Light intensity at next layer is given by transmittance from previous layer (assume no backscattering).
- Total energy funneled to photosynthetic pathways is estimated as the sum of light absorbed by each layer.
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