Team:Bologna/Characterization

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BBa_J23100 vs BBa_J23118

  • In order to identify the ratio between BBa_J23100 and BBa_J23118 promoters, we analyzed the BBa_K079031 and BBa_K079032 GFP production on pSB1A2 (Fig. 1):


Figure 1a - BBa_K079032 on pSB1A2
Figure 1b - BBa_K079031 on pSB1A2
Figure 2a - BBa_K079032 bacterial cells
Figure 2b - BBa_K079031 bacterial cells


Dh5alpha cells transformed with BBa_K079032 and BBa_K079031 were inoculated in M9 medium O/N. The day after, samples of bacterial cells in the stationary phase were collected and slide prepared for image acquisition with the optical microscope. Images were then analyzed with the VIFluoR software to analyse bacterial fluorescence. Mean fluorescence per bacterium was 51.3± 8.3 a.u. for BBa_K079032 and 43.7±10.4 a.u. for BBa_K079031. Fluorescence ratio BBa_K079032/ BBa_K079031 was 1.20±0.4 (Table 1).

Table 1 - Promoter fluorescence ratio after microscope analysis
Figure 3 - Box Plot of Table 1 data

The same sample were collected for fluorescence analysis with the Tecan M200 fluorimeter (Table 2) and the fluorescence ratio was confirmed:

Table 2 - Promoter fluorescence ratio after fluorimeter analysis

Dilutions from the O/N grown cultures were then obtained (OD = 0.1) and cell let to grow a 37 °C in a Tecan spectrofluorimeter. Both optical density (OD; Fig. 4) and fluorescence level (Fig. 5) were analized during 12 h. Fluorescence/OD ratio is shown over time in Fig. 6.

Fig.4 - Growth curve
Fig.5 - Fluorescence
Fig.6 - Fluorescence curve over OD


At the equilibrium once again fluorescence/OD BBa_K079032/ BBa_K079031 ratio was about 1.20 (Fig. 6). A relevant experimental result is the roughly 30fold increase in the fluorescence signal from the single bacterial cell occurring during the time course. A possible explanation of this observation could rely on the required activation of the major s subunit of RNA polymerase for transcription of most of the genes expressed in the exponential growth phase (Jishage M, Ishihama A. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1998; 95: 4953–8. See reference section). Too low fluorescence per cell at the beginning of the monitoring, possibly too close to the lower threshold of the fluorimeter, may also explain why BBa_K079032/ BBa_K079031 ratio was clearly apparent only after 8 hrs in culture.

pSB1A2 vs pSB3K3


  • In order to identify the ratio between the high copy number the low to medium copy number plasmids, we analyzed the BBa_K201003 GFP production both on pSB1A2 and pSB3K3 (Fig. 7):


Figure 7a - BBa_K201003 on pSB1A2
Figure 7b - BBa_K201003 on pSB3K3



Figure 8a - BBa_K201003 on pSB1A2 bacterial cells
Figure 8b - BBa_K201003 on pSB3K3 bacterial cells

From the Registry of Standard Biological Parts we knew that pSB1A2 is a high copy number plasmid while pSB3K3 is a low copy one, so the theoretical ratio between their copy number should be at least 10, but the highest value that we reached with the spectrofluorimeter was about 3,3. The BBa_K201003 with a high copy number plasmid and a low copy number were transformed in DH5alfa bacterial cells according to the standard protocol.
One colony from each plate was picked up and let grow overnight in M9 medium at 37°C. One milliliter for each of the two samples was collected by O/N cultures and spinned at 8000 rpm for a minute; another milliliter was used for measuring the optical density and estimate the growth of the sample. The supernatant was harvested and the pellet resuspended. Slides were prepared for the acquisition of images of fluorescent bacteria.

Table 3 - Promoter fluorescence ratio after microscope analysis
Figure 9 - Box Plot of Table 3 data
Table 3 - Promoter fluorescence ratio after microscope analysis


Presence vs Absence of LacI O2 natural operator


  • We needed to confirm that LacI natural operator O2 don't influence GFP production when LacI repressor is not present. We compare then the GFP expression level of BBa_K079032 and BBa_K201001


Figure 10a - BBa_K079032 on pSB1A2
Figure 10b - BBa_K201001 on pSB1A2


Figura 11a - BBa_K079032 bacterial cells
Figura 11b - BBa_K201001 bacterial cells



LacI induction response



  • We needed to confirm that LacI natural operator O2 don't influence GFP production when LacI repressor is not present. We analyzed then BBa_K201001 with BBa_K201002:


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Figura 12 - BBa_K201001 with BBa_K201002


Dh5alpha cells were co-transformed with the [http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K201001:Experience BBa_K201001] on a high copy number plasmid (pSB1A2) and BBa_K201002 on a low copy number plasmid (pSB3K3). To characterize this device and its sensitivity to the inducer, we studied both the static and the dynamic response to IPTG induction.

Static response Dh5alpha were inoculated in 5 ml of M9 medium with 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 uM IPTG, respectively. After O/N growth at 37° (about 12 h) samples were collected and slides prepared for microscope analysis. Acquired images were analyzed with the VIFluoR software. To obtain a significant representation of bacterial fluorescence, it was necessary to acquire several images, each one reporting a sufficient number of bacterial cells (n=60). VIFluoR operates image segmentation and then recognises the bacterial cells, yielding the mean fluorescence per bacterium as the output. The experimental data (Fig. 1) were used to identify, by the mathematical model, the operator binding affinity for the repressor LacI (K= 1.7 nM).

Fig.1. Experimental data (blue lines) of the static induction after 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 uM IPTG induction. Data were fitted by the model (green line) to identify the operator-repressor binding affinity (K= 1.7 nM)

After parameter identification, we computed by the model the static control curve for the LacI repressed GFP generator (LacI inverter) (Fig.2).


Fig.2. Model prediction of promoter repression by Lac I.


Dynamic response Dh5alpha cells were inoculated in the morning (9 a.m.) in 5 ml of M9 medium with no IPTG. After daily growth (about 8 h) the culture was diluted to an OD=0.1. To perform the induction analysis, the culture was splitted in two. A half was induced with 100 uM IPTG and the other was grown in control medium. 200 ul of each sample were used to fill plate wells (6 wells each). Cells were grown into a fluorimeter (Tecan M200) O/N (about 12h) at 37°. OD and fluorescence were sampled every 15 min (Fig. 3 and 4, respectively).

Fig.3. Growth curve for the uninduced (black line) and induced (100 uM IPTG, light blue line)system.
Fig.4. Absolute fluorescence curve for the uninduced (black line) and induced (light blue, 100 uM IPTG)system.
Fig.5. Model fitting of the experimental data. Experimental data (black lines) were fitted by the model considering a constant (blue line) or a varying (green line) amount of RNA polymerase

Experimental data of the fluorescence/OD ratio (Fig. 5; blue symbols) were compared to model predictions obtained either considering a constant (purple line) or progressively increasing (green line) amount of RNA polymerase. A good fitting can only be obtained if RNA polymerase available for transcription increases up to 30fold with respect to the initial value. This is consistent with the required activation of the major sigma subunit of RNA polymerase for transcription of most of the genes expressed in the exponential growth phase (Jishage M, Ishihama A. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1998; 95: 4953–8).

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