Team:TU-Munich/Notebook/Methods

• Home
• Project
  • Phytoremediation
  • Physcomitrella
  • Localization
  • BioDegradation
  • BioAccumulation
  • Kill Switch
  • Safety
• Results
  • BioBricks
  • Effector Studies
  • Moss Methods
  • Localization
  • PhyscoFilter
  • Kill Switch
  • Implementation
  • AutoAnnotator
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Summary
• Modeling
  • Protein Predictions
  • Kill Switch
  • Enzyme Kinetics
  • Filter Model
• Team
  • Members
  • Sponsors
  • Collaborations
  • Pictures
  • Timeline
  • Attributions
  • Judging
• Notebook
  • Labjournal
  • Methods
• Outreach
  • Expert Counsel
  • GMO release
  • Publicity
  • Educational Kit
  • Tutorials

Materials

The following section lists and describes the used material in the presented iGEM project.

1. Cell lines

• E. coli XL-1 Blue
  • Obtained from the chair for Biological Chemistry (TUM)
  • Cell line was used for molecular cloning
• E. coli BL21
  • Obtained from the chair for Biological Chemistry (TUM)
  • Cell line was used for cytosolic production of recombinant proteins
• P. patens clone XI
  • Was used for all moss experiments and for the generation of genetically modified P. patens plants
  • Kindly provided by the [http://www.plant-biotech.net/ Chair for Plant Biotechnology] (Freiburg University)
• Micrococcus luteus
  • Kindly provided by the [http://www.micbio.wzw.tum.de/index.php Chair for Microbial Ecology] (TUM)
  • Was used for the Kirby-Bauer assay to detect the degradation of erythromycin

2. Reagents

3. Kits and Standards

• Kits for DNA manipulation (Qiagen)
  • QIAprep Spin Miniprep Kit (Qiagen)
  • QIAquick Gel Extraction Kit (Qiagen)
  • QIAquick PCR Purification Kit (Qiagen)
  • QIAGEN Plasmid Midi Kit (Qiagen)

• DNA ladder
  • GeneRuler 1 kb DNA Ladder (Fermentas)
  • GeneRuler 100 bp DNA Ladder (Fermentas)
  • 2-Log DNA Ladder (New England Biolabs)

• Protein ladder
  • Unstained Protein Ladder (Fermentas)

• Kit for Luciferase assays
  • Nano-Glo Luciferase Assay

4. Consumables

• Plastics
  • 96-well plates(NUNC, Langenselbold, Germany)
  • 96-well plates for luminescense(NUNC, Langenselbold, Germany)
  • 96-well plats MaxiSorp ELISA (NUNC, Langenselbold, Germany)

• Affinity chromatography column material
  • IMAC Sepharose High Performance (GE Healthcare Europe GmbH, Penzberg, Germany)

5. DNA Synthesis

Oligonucleotides

6. Instruments

• Autoclaves
  • Varioklav Typ 500 (H & P Labortechnik GmbH)

• Balances
  • XB2200C (Precisa Gravimetrics AG, Dietikon, Switzerland)
  • 125A (Precisa Gravimetrics AG, Dietikon, Switzerland

• Chromatography: Affinity chromatography
  • Flowphotometer
    • 2138 Uvicord SII (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech Europe, Freiburg, Germany)
  • Peristaltic pump
    • Pump-P1 (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech Europe, Freiburg, Germany)
  • Fraction collector
    • GradiFrac (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech Europe, Freiburg, Germany)

• Chromatography: Size exclusion chromatography
  • ÄKTApurifiers (GE Healthcare Europe, Germany)
  • Tricorn 10/30 Superdex 75
  • Tricorn 10/30 Superdex 20
  • HiLoad 16/60 Superdex 75
  • HiLoad 16/60 Superdex 200

• Electrophoresis
  • Agarose gel electrophoresis chamber (Biometra GmbH)
  • Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis chamber (Biometra GmbH)

• Geldocumentation
  • Scanner
    • Epson Perfection V700 Photo (EPSON Deutschland GmbH, Germany)

• Mass spectrometer (ESI-TOF)
  • maXisTM Q-TOF mass spectrometer (Bruker Daltonik GmbH, Bremen, Germany)

• pH-Meter
  • inoLab Series pH 720

• Spectrometers
  • Nanodrop 2000 (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., St. Leon-Rot)
  • CD J810 Spektropolarimeter (Jasco Research, Victoria, Kanada)
  • UV-Vis Ultrospec 2100 pro (Amersham Bioscience Europe, Freiburg)
  • ELISA SpectraMax 250 ELISA Reader (Molecular Devices GmbH, Ismaning)
  • Synergy 2 ELISA plate reader (BioTek Instruments GmbH, Bad Friedrichshall)

• Thermocycler
  • Mastercycler Gradient (Eppendorf AG, Hamburg)

• Zentrifuges
  • Eppendorf
  • Sigma 4K10 (Sigma GmbH, Osterode)
  • Sigma 4K15 (Sigma GmbH, Osterode)

7. Computer programs

• Biocapt MW; version 10.04 (Software for gel documentation)
• ChemDraw Ultra; version 12.0 (Creation of digital chemical structures)
• Chimera; version 1.7 (Visualization of PDB-files)
• Geneious; version 4.8.5 (Organization of DNA sequences)
• Gimp; version 2.8.2 (Photo
• GraphPad Prism 6;
• Inkscape; Version 0.48.3.1
• Compass Data Analysis Software; Version 4.0
• OligoCalc
• ProtParam
• SignalP 4.1 Server (http://www.cbs.dtu.dk/services/SignalP/)
• TMHMM Server v. 2.0 (http://www.cbs.dtu.dk/services/TMHMM/)
• UNICORN; Version 5.20

Moss-cultivation

• Cellophane was used to grow the plants on agar plates in order to be able to pick them easily for subsequent experiments.
• Sterile filters
• Vacuum manifold

Methods

Molecular Biology Methods

Isolation of Plasmid DNA from E. coli (miniprep)

Plasmid DNA from E. coli was isolated from overnight cultures using the DNA extraction mini-prep kit (Qiagen). The principle of this method is alkaline lysis of bacterial cells followed by a selective immobilization of the plasmid DNA on a column, subsequent washing steps to remove impurities and the elution of plasmid DNA.

Determination of DNA Concentration

DNA concentration was measured using a NanoDrop Spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific). The concentration was calculated after determination of DNA specific absorbance at 260 nm. Furthermore, the ratio of sample absorbance at 260 and 280 nm as well as at 260 and 230 nm were measured to specify the purity of the samples. A ratio of 260/280 of ~1.8 is generally accepted as “pure” for DNA. If the ratio is appreciably lower, it may indicate contamination with proteins. The 260/230 nm ratio indicates contamination with thiocyanates and phenolate ions since these absorb at 230 nm. The value is expected to be in the range of 1.8-2.2 in case DNA is relatively pure.

Agarose Gel-Electrophoresis

Agarose gel-electrophoresis was used to separate double-stranded DNA fragments by length. Ethidium bromide was applied as a nucleic acid stain (Sambrook et al., 1989). This method was used for the restriction analysis of plasmids (analytical gel-electrophoresis) as well as for the isolation of DNA fragments (preparative gel-electrophoresis). After preparative gel-electrophoresis, the bands were cut out and purified using a Qiagen Gel extraction kit.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the selective amplification of desired DNA fragments (for example from a plasmid). Primers were designed for the desired target sequences. The PCR reaction was divided in to three steps which were repeated up to 30 times. Firstly, the DNA template strand was heat-denatured at 95 °C to produce single-stranded DNA. Secondly, the temperature of the reaction batch was lowered to 55 – 60 °C to allow the primers to bind. Thirdly, the temperature was raised to 72 °C. This enabled the DNA polymerase to synthesize the other DNA strand. Special PCR methods that were used include colony and genomic PCR.

Colony PCR

A method to allow for higher throughput of clone screenings. Colonies were picked with a sterile toothpick or pipet tip. Some of the cells were smeared onto the wall of the PCR tube. Subsequently the toothpick was put into a cell culture tube with LB-medium and suitable antibiotic. Colony PCR was performed using OneTaq Hot Start DNA Polymerase (Qiagen) following this temperature scheme:

Purification of PCR products

PCR products were purified using the PCR purification kit by Qiagen.

Dephosphorylation of DNA

Dephosphorylation of digested PCR products via Shrimp Alkaline Phosphatase (Fermaentas) was done to avoid religation of the insert and enhance ligation rate. Before dephosphorylation was performed, digest solution of restriction enzymes and buffer were purified with PCR Purification Kit (Qiagen). Afterwards 1 µg sample DNA was mixed with 10% of 10x SAP Buffer and 1 unit SAP. The mixture was incubated at 37 °C for 30 min. Inactivation occurred at 65 °C for 15 min.

DNA Restriction Enzyme Digest

For the preparation of DNA fragments and the restriction analysis of plasmid DNA, DNA was cut using restriction endonucleases. Buffers and DNA concentrations were used according to the manufacturer's suggestions.

Ligation / Cycled Ligation

After digestion with an restriction enzyme, plasmid fragments were inserted into vectors (which were cut with matching restriction enzymes) by ligation. The enzyme T4 ligase connected complementary overhangs of fragments by catalyzing the formation of the bond between the 5'phosphoryl group and the 3' hydroxyl group.

Oligohybridization of Single-Stranded DNA

Oligohybridization of oligo-nucleotides was used to create a mini MCS for cloning RFC10 compatible parts between promoter and terminator. This was achieved by using complementary oligo-nucleotides that contained the desired sequence with specific overhangs for cloning. For oligohybridization, 25 ml of 100 mM of forward and reverse oligos were put together in one tube and heated to 90 °C for 5 min. The samples were slowly cooled to room temperature in a styrofoam box overnight.

Site-Directed Mutagenesis

Site-Directed Mutagenesis was used to mutate specific bases of DNA sequences. Therefore, specific primers, which bind at the same site and contain a mismatch at the specific base, were required. The original base pair that had to be replaced was replaced by the mismatch. The method works just as PCR by amplifying the desired product that contains the mismatch. Afterwards, the product was digested with the restriction enzyme DpnI to destroy the plasmids strands which do not contain the desired base pair exchange. The QuikChange Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit by Agilent Technologies was used.

Sequencing of Plasmid DNA

DNA constructs were sequenced by [http://eurofinsdna.com/ Eurofins mwg operon] using our own sequencing primers.

Protein Biochemical Methods

Protein production in E. coli

In order to produce our desired proteins we used the E.coli strain BL21 and the expression system pBAD. Transformed cells were put in a 4 ml culture tube with LB and 1:500 kanamycin to create a homogenous monoclonal bacteria solution. After a few hours 50 ml flasks were inoculated as a preparatory culture and incubated at 30°C overnight. Each 50 ml flask was then transferred in a 2l flask with LB and 1:500 kanamycin and incubated at 25°C till an OD of 0.8 is reached. Subsequently a concentration of 5mM arabinose was used to induce the production of our protein. After another 5 hours at 25°C our cells were ready to be harvested.

Cell disruption

To extract our protein we centrifuged our cell cultures and discarded the supernatant. The pellet of 1 l suspension was resuspended in 20 ml 0,5 mg/ml lysozyme solution and rolled for 3 hours at 4°C. For cell disruption we used a sonifier keeping the solution at under 12°C at all times.

Streptavidin-Affinity chromatography (SAC)

The isolation of recombinant proteins from crude cell extracts were performed by using streptavidin-affinity chromatography (SAC). In this method, recombinant proteins that are fused to a strep tag can be purified with a streptavidin sepharose column. The crude cell extract was centrifuged at 47000 g at 4° C for 1 hour. Afterwards, the supernatant was dialysed two times against 5 l 1 x SA-buffer for about 3 hours each to remove bacterial biotin.

Concentrating proteins using a centrifugal filter unit

Proteins were concentrated by centrifugation in filter units by Millipore with varying cutoffs. After each round of centrifugation (3 min, 3000g, 4°C) the protein solution was pipeted up and down to avoid plugging of the filter and resulting aggregation of the protein.

SDS Polyacrylamide Gelelectrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)

Firstly, glass plates were wiped with 70% ethanol and then assembled onto a setting rig. No rubber spacers were added as they were already fixed to the glass plates. A 15% resolving gel was made as follows:

• 5 ml protogel
• 2.5 ml 4 x Lower Tris (pH 8.8)
• 2,5 ml H₂O
• 50 μl ammonium persulphate (APS) (10%)
• 2,5 μl N,N,N’,N’-tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED)

The tube was mixed thoroughly and added to the setting rig between the glass plates, covered with water and left to set for about 30 minutes. Then the water was poured off and a stacking gel was prepared as follows:

• 1 ml protogel
• 1.5 ml 4 x Upper Tris
• 3,5 ml H₂O
• 36 μl ammonium persulphate (APS) (10%)
• 3 μl N,N,N’,N’-tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED)

All substances were mixed by inversion. 1 ml was applied on top of the already set resolving gel and a comb was put in. Once the gel was set, the comb was taken out and the wells were cleaned out with sterile water. The set gels were removed from the setting rig and placed in the running rig. 1x running buffer was poured into the rig ensuring the plates were covered. For protein preparation, 30 µg protein in 10 µl H₂0 and 2,5 µl 5 x Laemmli buffer were denatured for 5 minutes at 95 °C. Then 6 µl marker (unstained marker for coomassie-staining or prestained marker for Western Blot) was put into a well. The remaining wells were filled with 12,5 µl of the protein that was to be analyzed. The SDS-PAGE was performed at 120 V for about 1,5 h. For coomassie staining, the gel was incubated in coomassie staining dye for 20 minutes, then put into the first decolorizing solution for 20 minutes. Finally. the gel was put into a second decolorizing solution until the background color was gone. Another method that was used for protein staining was silver staining.

Silver staining of polyacrylamide gels

Reagents

• Fixation solution: (50:5:45 v/v/v methanol : acetic acid : water) -> 50 ml
• Sensitising solution: (0.02 % sodium thiosulfate) -> 50 ml
• Coloring solution: 0.01 % AgNO3 -> 50 ml
• Delevoping solution: (0.04 % formaldehyde in 2 % sodium carbonate) -> 200 ml
• Safe-keeping solution: 1 % acetic acid -> 200 ml

Methods
1. After the gel has been run, fix the protein by incubating the gel slab in fixation solution 20-30 minutes.
2. Rinse the gel slab with water (2 changes, two minutes per change) and then leave it further in water for one hour on a shaking platform.
-> !!Extended washing time helps to eliminate yellowish background usually observed after long developing of the gel!!
3. Sensitise the gel with sensitising solution for 1-2 minutes. Discard solution and quickly rinse the gel slab with two changes of water (10 seconds each).
-> !!Agitate gently to make sure that the gel slab is covered evenly!!
4. Incubate the gel in chilled 0.1 % AgNO3 for 30 minutes at 4 °C (fridge).
5. Discard silver nitrate solution and quickly rinse the gel with two changes of water (30 seconds per each change).
6. Develop the gel with developing solution. Discard the developing solution as soon as it turns yellow and replace it with a fresh portion.
7. When a sufficient degree of staining has been obtained, quench staining by discarding the developing solution and replacement with 1 % acetic acid. Was the gel with 1 % acetic acid several times and store in the same solution.
-> !!Silver stained gels can be stored at 4 °C in 1 % acetic acid for months. In some cases the colour of the stained protein bands might slightly change in time. However these changes do not affect the results of mass spectrometric sequencing!!

Western Blot

After SDS-PAGE, gels were transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane in transfer buffer (20 ml 5x SDS buffer, 20 ml methanol, 60 ml H₂O) at 500 mA for 1h. Membranes were washed 3x 15 min in PBS-T0.1 (PBS + 0,1 % v/v Tween 20) and subsequently blocked with 3 % BSA for one hour. For antibody detection, membranes were washed 3x 15 min in PBS-T0.1 and then incubated in detection solution containing the antibody straptavidin-AP (1:4000 in PBS-T0.1) for one hour. The Western blot was washed 2x 10 min in PBS-T0.1 and then 2x 10 min in PBS. Afterwards, the developing solution (15 ml alkaline phosphatase buffer, 45 µl BCIP (50 mg/ml in DMF) and 7,5 µl NBT (75 mg/ml in 70 % DMF) was added. After the appearance of bands, the blot was washed and stored in water.

Microbiological Methods

Cultivation of E.coli

E.coli strain XL1-Blue was cultivated in LB-medium (lysogeny broth) and LB plates. for the preparation of 1 liter of LB, dissolve the following and autoclave:

• 10 g tryptone
• 5 g yeast extract
• 10 g NaCl

For making plates, add 15 g bacto-agar before autoclaving.

Heat Shock Transformation of E.coli with Plasmid DNA

Before transformation, CaCl₂ competent cells were produced after Cohen et al., 1972. For the production of competent cells, 50 ml LB medium were inoculated with an overnight culture of the used ‘’E.coli’’ strain and incubated at 37 °C, 180 rpm. After an OD ₅₅₀ of 0,5 was reached, the culture was centrifuged for 4 minutes at 5000 g for 10 minutes. The pellet was then resuspended in 40 ml pre-chilled in 0,1 M MgCl₂ solution, centrifuged again and resuspended in 20 ml of pre-chilled 0,05 M CaCl₂ solution. After 30 minutes of incubation on ice, the cells were centrifuged and resuspended in 2 ml 0,05 M CaCl₂ solution, 15 % v/v glycerol. The competent cells were aliquoted and stored an – 80 °C. For the transformation, 100 µl competent cells and 1 ng plasmid or 5 µg of a ligation product were mixed and incubated for 30 minutes on ice. Afterwards, the cells were heat shocked at 37 °C for 5 minutes, then mixed with 2 ml LB medium and incubated at 180 rpm and 37 °C for 30-45 minutes. The transformed cells were then plated on LB medium containing an antibiotic.

Physcomitrella Methods

The techniques used for the cultivation and manipulation of Physcomitrella patens are based on the knowledge of the chair for Plantbiotechnology of Prof. Dr. Reski at Freiburg University which are availible at [http://www.plant-biotech.net Plant-Biotech.net].

Preparation of Medium and Solutions

According to Reski and Abel, 1985: