Team:Utah State/Notebook

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USU iGem Untitled Document

NOTEBOOK May
June
July August September October Meetings
BioBricks without Borders:

Investigating a multi-host BioBrick vector and secretion of cellular products


The aim of the Utah State University iGEM project is to develop improved upstream and downstream processing strategies for manufacturing cellular products using the standardized BioBrick system. First, we altered the broad-host range vector pRL1383a to comply with BioBrick standards and enable use of BioBrick constructs in organisms like Pseudomonas putida, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, and Synechocystis PCC6803. This vector will facilitate exploitation of advantageous characteristics of these organisms, such as photosynthetic carbon assimilation. Following expression, product recovery poses a difficult and expensive challenge. Downstream processing of cellular compounds, like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), commonly represents more than half of the total production expense. To counter this problem, secretion-promoting BioBrick devices were constructed through genetic fusion of signal peptides with protein-coding regions. To demonstrate this, the secretion of PHA granule-associated proteins and their affinity to PHA was investigated. Project success will facilitate expression and recovery of BioBrick-coded products in multiple organisms.

OUR SITE IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND OUR INFORMATION IS BEING ADDED. PLEASE COME BACK IN A FEW WEEKS TO SEE OUR PROJECT!


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Team Meetings


May 12
Introduction to iGEM and to team members. Reviewed last years competition. Overview of the iGEM website.
  • Plan-Become familiar with website, review team projects from previous years, create user accounts.
June 23
Discussed University of Hawaii team project from 2008. Watched their presentation and discussed their project goals. Decided as a group to continue their project where they left off, after having made contact with them.
  • Plan-Request constructs and parts from team Hawaii. Have conference call with last year's Hawaii team. Literature search.
June 30
Team introduction to working with a wiki. Waiting for constructs.
  • Plan-Contribute name, brief autobiographical description, and picture to wiki.
August ?
Project Progress Check.
Broad-Host Vector: After PCR, ligation attempts, gel observations, it appears that the Broad-Host Vector in the catalog is not functioning nor is it the anticipated length. Intend to take a known broad-host vector, perform an enzyme digestion and test ability of vector to carry red flourescent protein sequence.
September 3
September 10
Finalized team roster and travel information. Reviewed judging criteria, our current standing as far as BioBricks designed, what could still be designed and feasibly tested. Discussed the track in which we would compete. Assignments made for next meeting.
  • Plan-Complete abstract, finalize title and track by Sept. 18.
1. Cole Peterson - Set up ligation of pRL1383a/BBa_I20260 and test.
2. Alex Hatch - Submit schedule for availability to Cole, assist Cole with vector construction, write team background and post on the wiki.
3. Garrett Hinton - Write a general project description for the front page of the wiki (see last years wiki, and other team's wiki's to get an idea of what you should write about and ask Libby, Trent, or Cole if you've any questions.
4. Tyrell Rupp- Have a draft-version of a flash animation for our project.
5. Rachel Porter- Have 3 logo ideas ready for the team to choose from.
6. Jody Jerez/Jeff Karren- Edit/Post protocols on Wiki (you will need to contact other people in lab for help with revisions). Edit these so that they are also not just cut and paste from last years.
September 17
Had final discussions on project title and track we intend to compete in. Reviewed the project abstract. Discussed Wiki progress.