Team:UniSalento Lecce/Data

1 - Submitted parts agarose gel analysis

Here you can find a PCR and/or a restriction analysis of these parts: BBa_K1151001, BBa_K1151005, BBa_K1151009, BBa_K1151010, BBa_K1151011, BBa_K1151036, BBa_K1151038, made to evaluate their identity.
The molecular weight of these parts has been evaluated with the Invitrogen 1kb DNA Ladder (15615-016)

BBa_K1151001

The K1151001 digestion with EcoRI and PstI displays a profile confirming its molecular weight.





The K1151001 PCR with VF2 (BBa_BBa_G00100) and VR (BBa_BBa_G00101) displays a profile confirming its molecular weight.

BBa_K1151005

The K1151005 digestion with EcoRI and PstI displays a profile confirming its molecular weight.






The K1151005 PCR with VF2 (BBa_BBa_G00100) and VR (BBa_BBa_G00101) displays a profile confirming its molecular weight.

BBa_K1151009

The K1151009 digestion with EcoRI and PstI displays a profile confirming its molecular weight.









The K1151009 PCR with VF2 (BBa_BBa_G00100) and VR (BBa_BBa_G00101) displays a profile confirming its molecular weight.

BBa_K1151010

The K1151010 digestion with EcoRI and PstI displays a profile confirming its molecular weight.









The K1151010 PCR with VF2 (BBa_BBa_G00100) and VR (BBa_BBa_G00101) displays a profile confirming its molecular weight.

BBa_K1151011

The K1151011 digestion with EcoRI and PstI displays a profile confirming its molecular weight.








The K1151011 PCR with VF2 (BBa_BBa_G00100) and VR (BBa_BBa_G00101) displays a profile confirming its molecular weight.

BBa_K1151036

The K1151036 PCR with VF2 (BBa_BBa_G00100) and VR (BBa_BBa_G00101) displays a profile confirming its molecular weight.

BBa_K1151038

The K1151038 digestion with EcoRI displays a profile confirming its molecular weight.

2 - HpNikR characterization data

We received this part by Dr. Alberto Danielli, a researcher in molecular biology at the Department of Pharmacology and Biotechnology at the University of Bologna. He sent us the gene encoding HpNikR (from the genome of H. pylori G27) inserted into a pET-15b plasmid.
For studying HpNikR, submitted as BBa_K1151000, we proceeded with the following workflow. Go to the Protocols page.

2.1 - HpNikR PCR

This part was amplified by PCR from the plasmid pETNikR.
Primers used (including Biobrick Prefix and Suffix, lowercase):
nikRFor:
gtttcttcgaattcgcggccgcttctagATGGATACACCCAATAAAGACG
nikRRev:
gtttcttcctgcagcggccgctactagtattattaCTATTCATTGTGTTCAAAG

2.2 - HpNikR expression using BL21(DE3) cells

First we made ​​competent BL21 cells and we transformed it with the plasmid containing HpNikR. We then proceeded with the normal protocol of induction with IPTG for a time of 1, 2 and 4 hours.

2.3 - Cytosol/membrane separation by Zerial method

To confirm that NikR is a cytosolic protein (not expressed in multivesicular bodies, and then in membrane) we performed a separation membrane-cytosol (Zerial method) (sample: 2-hours induced cells).

2.4 - HpNikR purification by Ni-NTA resin

NikR (sample: 2-hours induced cells) can be purified by Ni-NTA resin, which has a high affinity for histidine residues.

2.5 - ICP-AES assay

Inductively-Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) is a type of emission spectroscopy that uses the inductively coupled plasma to produce excited atoms and ions that emit electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths characteristic of a particular element. The intensity of this emission is indicative of the concentration of the element within the sample. These are the samples (also here the final volume of each is 100 ul) analyzed, see the Protocols page for Incubation protocol:

1. 100 ul Incubation buffer
2. 1,5 ul Nickel sulfate + 98,5 ul Incubation buffer
3. 1,2 ul (1 ug) NikR + 0,3 ul Nickel sulfate + 98,5 ul Incubation buffer
4. 6,1 ul (5 ug) NikR + 1,5 ul Nickel sulfate + 92,4 ul Incubation buffer
5. 12,2 ul (10 ug) NikR + 3 ul Nickel sulfate + 84,8 ul Incubation buffer
6. Sephadex resin after incubation with the sample n.4

Although it remains difficult to identify accurately the binding NikR-nickel stoichiometry we can say, however, that between the two variables exists a direct relationship.

2.6 - ATR-FTIR spectroscopy assay

To complete our analysis on the protein, we studied the conformational changes which HpNikR goes under in the bond with Ni2+ ions through Attentuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). With this technique it is possible to acquire the infrared absorption spectra of our control (Apo-HpNikR) and of our protein treated with NiSO4 (complex HpNikR:Ni), so as to obtain the IR differential spectrum. By means of these it will be possible to highlight how some spectrum peaks suffer changes in infrared absorption due to changes in protein conformation induced by the nickel binding.
Our hypothesis: The analysis of the spectrum of the native protein shows two peaks at values ​​of wave number of 1261 cm-1 and 800 cm-1; these peaks are absent in the protein in the presence of nickel and everything is confirmed by the differential spectrum.These peaks could be assigned to a tyrosine residue that due to the interaction with nickel undergoes a deprotonation of the hydroxyl functional group. So it can be assumed that the bond to the metal induces a change necessary to the regulator NikR for the interaction with DNA.

2.7 - CryoTEM microscopy of purified HpNikR

The images above shown are for explicative use only. For a full resolution image click here
The high quality of the CryoTEM image displays:

• We made a correct sample preparation
• We set up correct set of experimental and instrumental conditions
• There is high probability that the image is relative to purified HpNikR protein. Assuming that ribosomal particles, whose molecular weight is around 200 kDa, have a diameter around 20 nm, the particle of diameter of around 1-2 nm which can be seen may coincide with a particle of MW around 20 kDa. HpNikR MW is around 17 kDa.

3 - Nickel responsive promoters characterization data

3.1 - PCR amplification of the promoters

We obtained the promoters from PCR with the following primers:

IntergenicaFor: gtttcttcgaattcgcggccgcttctagagTGAGAAAAATCCTTTTTTG
pnikrev: gtttcttcctgcagcggccgctactagtaTGAGAAAAATCCTTTTTTG
pnikfor: gtttcttcgaattcgcggccgcttctagagAATTCAAACGCTCTTATG
pexbfor: gtttcttcgaattcgcggccgcttctagagACTGGATTTAAATGGTTG
pexbrev:gtttcttcctgcagcggccgctactagtaGCACCCTATAAGAAGGCATC

Fluorescence Decay assays

We set up these experiments to evaluate the shutdown of the fluorescence signal, through a series of measurements conducted at fluorometer. We added a fixed quantity of IPTG and nickel to BL21 cells transformed with the plasmid containing this part, and exploited the ability of Olo-NikR to bind the pnikR and the double divergent promoter, thus repressing the transcription of GFP. (Nickel and IPTG added per flask: 0.3 ul from stock 10 ug / ul; 5 ul 1M)

3.2 - pnikR

To characterize this part we used BBa_K1151036. These data shows the ability of HpNikR to regulate pnikR, regulating GFP expression.

3.3 - Double divergent promoter pnikR-pexbB

To characterize this part we used BBa_K1151038. These data shows the ability of HpNikR to regulate divergent promoter, regulating GFP expression.

All the graphs show the difference between the 3 control samples (LB, LB + Ni2+, LB + IPTG) and the Ni-IPTG incubated sample regarding variations in time-dependent fluorescence signal. The expression of the repressor, HpNikR (BBa_K1151000), under the control of a pLac promoter, has effects on the fluorescence level of GFP only in the cultures incubated with nickel. The response of repression of GFP is found in both the constructs (BBa_K1151036 and BBa_K1151038) with HpNiKR responsive promoters and it is quite clear despite the long half-life of GFP. The proof showed the correct operation of the Biobricks, in particular the good functionality of the repression mechanism, nickel-dependent, operated by NikR on the two promoters, that composed a divergent intergenic region of Helicobacter pylori, pnikR and pexbB. Measurements were made, with a Tecan Infinite 200 PRO Multimode Reader, at the two typical wavelenghts of GFP in order to have a complete and secure framework of the experiments.