Team:UNITN-Trento/Project/Ethylene

From 2013.igem.org

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<span class="tn-title">Results - Ethylene</span>
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        <span class="tn-title">Results - Ethylene</span>
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<p>
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        <p>
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EFE (Ethylene Forming Enzyme - 2-Oxoglutarate Oxygenase/Decarboxylase) is our keyplayer in triggering fruit ripening. It catalyzes ethylene synthesis from 2-Oxoglutarate, a TCA cycle intermediate molecule <span class="tn-ref">(Goto M., Plant and Cell Physiology 2012, 26: 141-150)</span>.
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            EFE (Ethylene Forming Enzyme - 2-Oxoglutarate Oxygenase/Decarboxylase) is our keyplayer in triggering fruit ripening. It catalyzes ethylene synthesis from 2-Oxoglutarate, a TCA cycle intermediate molecule <span class="tn-ref">(Goto M., Plant and Cell Physiology 2012, 26: 141-150)</span>.
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</p>
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        </p>
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<img class="no-border" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/f/f8/Tn-2013-project_ethylene-Eth_path.jpg" alt="Ethylene pathway" />
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        <img class="no-border" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/f/f8/Tn-2013-project_ethylene-Eth_path.jpg" alt="Ethylene pathway" />
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<p>
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        <p>
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We characterized this gene in two chassis: <i>E. coli</i> and <i>B. subtilis</i>, using different constructs that we designed.
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            We characterized this gene in two chassis: <i>E. coli</i> and <i>B. subtilis</i>, using different constructs that we designed.
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</p>
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        </p>
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<span class="tn-subtitle">EFE in E. coli</span>
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        <span class="tn-subtitle">EFE in E. coli</span>
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/9/9b/Tn-2013-project_ethylene-BBa_K1065000.jpg" alt="E. coli EFE parts" />
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        <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/9/9b/Tn-2013-project_ethylene-BBa_K1065000.jpg" alt="E. coli EFE parts" />
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<p>
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        <p>
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In <i>E. coli</i>, EFE-catalyzed ethylene production was characterized using <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065001">BBa_K1065001</a>, which is a composed part with EFE under the control of an araC-pBAD promoter.
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            In <i>E. coli</i>, EFE-catalyzed ethylene production was characterized using <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065001">BBa_K1065001</a>, which is a composed part with EFE under the control of an araC-pBAD promoter.
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</p>
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        </p>
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<span class="tn-sub-subtitle">Ethylene detection</span>
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        <span class="tn-sub-subtitle">Ethylene detection</span>
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<p>
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        <p>
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Ethylene production was detected using a Micro Gas Chromatograph (see the <a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:UNITN-Trento/Protocols#ethylene-detection-assay">protocol page</a> for the adopted methodology, <b>Figure 1</b>). The instrument was calibrated using two different air mixtures with well-defined quantities of each molecule (carbon dioxide, oxygen and ethylene).
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            Ethylene production was detected using a Micro Gas Chromatograph (see the <a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:UNITN-Trento/Protocols#ethylene-detection-assay">protocol page</a> for the adopted methodology, <b>Figure 1</b>). The instrument was calibrated using two different air mixtures with well-defined quantities of each molecule (carbon dioxide, oxygen and ethylene).
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</p>
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        </p>
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<img class="no-bottom" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/c/cf/Tn-2013_EFE_chromatogram.jpg" alt="Ethylene chromatogram" />
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        <img class="no-bottom" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/c/cf/Tn-2013_EFE_chromatogram.jpg" alt="Ethylene chromatogram" />
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<span class="tn-caption"><b>Fig. 1:</b> Ethylene production. <i>E. coli</i> NEB10&beta; cells transformed with <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065001">BBa_K1065001</a> were grown in a thermoshaker until an O.D. of 0.5, placed in hermetically closed vials with a rubber septum and induced with 5 mM arabinose. Ethylene was measured after 4 hours of induction at 37 °C by connecting the vial to an Agilent Micro GC 3000.</span>
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        <span class="tn-caption"><b>Fig. 1:</b> Ethylene production. <i>E. coli</i> NEB10&beta; cells transformed with <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065001">BBa_K1065001</a> were grown in a thermoshaker until an O.D. of 0.5, placed in hermetically closed vials with a rubber septum and induced with 5 mM arabinose. Ethylene was measured after 4 hours of induction at 37 °C by connecting the vial to an Agilent Micro GC 3000.</span>
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<p>
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        <p>
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To quantify the amount of ethylene produced the peak integral was converted into ppm.
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            To quantify the amount of ethylene produced the peak integral was converted into ppm.
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</p>
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        </p>
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<table class="no-bottom" id="ethylene_detected">
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        <table class="no-bottom" id="ethylene_detected">
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<tr>
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            <tr>
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<th class="center">
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                <th class="center">
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Sample
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                    Sample
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</th>
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                </th>
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<th class="center">
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                <th class="center">
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Ethylene detected
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                    Ethylene detected
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</th>
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                </th>
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</tr>
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            </tr>
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<tr>
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            <tr>
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<td>
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                <td>
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Not induced
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                    Not induced
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</td>
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                </td>
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<td class="right">
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                <td class="right">
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0 ± 15 ppm
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                    0 ± 15 ppm
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</td>
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                </td>
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</tr>
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            </tr>
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<tr>
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            <tr>
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<td>
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                <td>
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Induced V = 1.5 ml
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                    Induced V = 1.5 ml
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</td>
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                </td>
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<td class="right">
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                <td class="right">
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61 ± 15 ppm
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                    61 ± 15 ppm
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</td>
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                </td>
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</tr>
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            </tr>
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<tr>
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            <tr>
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<td>
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                <td>
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Induced V = 3 ml
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                    Induced V = 3 ml
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</td>
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                </td>
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<td class="right">
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                <td class="right">
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101 ± 15 ppm
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                    101 ± 15 ppm
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</td>
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                </td>
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</tr>
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            </tr>
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</table>
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        </table>
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<span class="tn-caption center"><b>Table. 1:</b> ethylene detected quantities.</span>
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        <span class="tn-caption center"><b>Table. 1:</b> ethylene detected quantities.</span>
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<span class="tn-sub-subtitle">Kinetic assay for ethylene production</span>
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        <span class="tn-sub-subtitle">Kinetic assay for ethylene production</span>
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<p>
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        <p>
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We performed a kinetic assay in order to analyze ethylene production over time (see the <a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:UNITN-Trento/Protocols#kinetic-ethylene-production">protocol page</a> for the adopted method).
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            We performed a kinetic assay in order to analyze ethylene production over time (see the <a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:UNITN-Trento/Protocols#kinetic-ethylene-production">protocol page</a> for the adopted method).
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</p>
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        </p>
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<div class="tn-doublephoto-wrap">
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        <div class="tn-doublephoto-wrap">
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<img class="plot no-bottom" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/0/00/Tn-2013_kinetic_EFE_plot-2.png" alt="kinetic_EFE_plot" />
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            <img class="plot no-bottom" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/0/00/Tn-2013_kinetic_EFE_plot-2.png" alt="kinetic_EFE_plot" />
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<img class="photo no-bottom" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/9/98/Tn-2013_ethylene_kinetic_img.JPG" />
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            <img class="photo no-bottom" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/9/98/Tn-2013_ethylene_kinetic_img.JPG" />
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</div>
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        </div>
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<span class="tn-caption"><b>Fig. 2:</b> Ethylene production (ppm) over time (min) of <i>E. coli</i> NEB10&beta; cells transformed with <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065001">BBa_K1065001</a>, induced with 5 mM arabinose at different O.D.600 and cultured in different conditions. The control (not-induced sample) did not show any amount of ethylene.</span>
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        <span class="tn-caption"><b>Fig. 2:</b> Ethylene production (ppm) over time (min) of <i>E. coli</i> NEB10&beta; cells transformed with <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065001">BBa_K1065001</a>, induced with 5 mM arabinose at different O.D.600 and cultured in different conditions. The control (not-induced sample) did not show any amount of ethylene.</span>
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<p>
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        <p>
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<b>Figure 2</b> shows that induction of the culture at O.D.600 equal to 0.8 caused a 2-fold increase in ethylene production.
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            <b>Figure 2</b> shows that induction of the culture at O.D.600 equal to 0.8 caused a 2-fold increase in ethylene production.
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</p>
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        </p>
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<span class="tn-sub-subtitle">Toxicity test</span>
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        <span class="tn-sub-subtitle">Toxicity test</span>
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<p>
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        <p>
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A toxicity test was performed inducing EFE expression with 5 mM arabinose (<b>Figure 3</b>). The growth curve was then compared to a non-induced sample.
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            A toxicity test was performed inducing EFE expression with 5 mM arabinose (<b>Figure 3</b>). The growth curve was then compared to a non-induced sample.
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</p>
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        </p>
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<img class="no-bottom" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/6/6f/Tn-20130627-Efe_Toxicity_test-PLOT.png" alt="Toxicity test plot" />
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        <img class="no-bottom" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/6/6f/Tn-20130627-Efe_Toxicity_test-PLOT.png" alt="Toxicity test plot" />
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<span class="tn-caption center"><b>Fig. 3:</b> growth curves of <i>E. coli</i> NEB10&beta; cells transformed with <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065001">BBa_K1065001</a> and of controls.</span>
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        <span class="tn-caption center"><b>Fig. 3:</b> growth curves of <i>E. coli</i> NEB10&beta; cells transformed with <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065001">BBa_K1065001</a> and of controls.</span>
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<p>
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        <p>
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As expected, induced samples showed a decreased growth rate.
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            As expected, induced samples showed a decreased growth rate.
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</p>
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        </p>
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<span class="tn-subtitle">EFE under the control of a Blue light circuit in E. coli</span>
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        <span class="tn-subtitle">EFE under the control of a Blue light circuit in E. coli</span>
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/5/59/BluelightEFE.jpg" alt="e.coli_bluelight-EFE_parts" />
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        <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/5/59/BluelightEFE.jpg" alt="e.coli_bluelight-EFE_parts" />
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<p>
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        <p>
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To build our final system we placed EFE under the control of a photoinducible circuit. We assembled the photoinducible circuit exploiting many subparts from different teams (Uppsala 2011 and Berkeley 2006). The construct <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065311">BBa_K1065311</a> includes an inverter that allows ethylene production only in presence of light. For more details on the design and characterization of the circuit check the blue light page of our wiki.
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            To build our final system we placed EFE under the control of a photoinducible circuit. We assembled the photoinducible circuit exploiting many subparts from different teams (Uppsala 2011 and Berkeley 2006). The construct <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065311">BBa_K1065311</a> includes an inverter that allows ethylene production only in presence of light. For more details on the design and characterization of the circuit check the blue light page of our wiki.
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</p>
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        </p>
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<span class="tn-sub-subtitle">Photoinduced ethylene production - kinetic assay</span>
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        <span class="tn-sub-subtitle">Photoinduced ethylene production - kinetic assay</span>
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<p>
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        <p>
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We performed a kinetic assay in order to analyze ethylene production over time using <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065311">BBa_K1065311</a> (<b>Figure 4</b>). At an O.D. of 0.7, the culture was transferred to an hermetically closed vial and exposed to a blue light LED (470 nm). This airtight vial was also connected to the micro GC (see the protocol page for the adopted method).
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            We performed a kinetic assay in order to analyze ethylene production over time using <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065311">BBa_K1065311</a> (<b>Figure 4</b>). At an O.D. of 0.7, the culture was transferred to an hermetically closed vial and exposed to a blue light LED (470 nm). This airtight vial was also connected to the micro GC (see the protocol page for the adopted method).
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</p>
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        </p>
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<div class="tn-doublephoto-wrap">
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        <div class="tn-doublephoto-wrap">
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<img class="plot no-bottom" style="height: 300px;" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/2/28/Blue_light_EFE_kinetic.png" alt="EFE-blue_light_plot" />
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            <img class="plot no-bottom" style="height: 300px;" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/2/28/Blue_light_EFE_kinetic.png" alt="EFE-blue_light_plot" />
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<img class="photo no-bottom" style="height: 300px;" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/d/dc/Tn-2013_bluelight_kinetic.JPG" />
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            <img class="photo no-bottom" style="height: 300px;" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/d/dc/Tn-2013_bluelight_kinetic.JPG" />
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</div>
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        </div>
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<span class="tn-caption"><b>Fig. 4:</b> Ethylene production (ppm) upon photoinduction with a blue LED light over time (min) of <i>E. coli</i> NEB10&beta; cells transformed with <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065311">BBa_K1065311</a>.</span>
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        <span class="tn-caption"><b>Fig. 4:</b> Ethylene production (ppm) upon photoinduction with a blue LED light over time (min) of <i>E. coli</i> NEB10&beta; cells transformed with <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065311">BBa_K1065311</a>.</span>
When we first obtained these results we were really excited. However, the negative control (dark) showed also some ethylene production. The DNA sequencing also indicated some problems in the construct. We have recently fixed this part, confirmed it by sequencing, and submitted it to the registry. We did not have the possibility yet to test it for ethylene production. However the part is able to produce amilCP when photoinduced. Since the blue reporter correctly appeared only in the induced sample, we think that ethylene could be properly detected. <br><br/>
When we first obtained these results we were really excited. However, the negative control (dark) showed also some ethylene production. The DNA sequencing also indicated some problems in the construct. We have recently fixed this part, confirmed it by sequencing, and submitted it to the registry. We did not have the possibility yet to test it for ethylene production. However the part is able to produce amilCP when photoinduced. Since the blue reporter correctly appeared only in the induced sample, we think that ethylene could be properly detected. <br><br/>
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<img style="width:50%;"src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/7/7e/Tn-2013Pelletts.png"/>
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        <img style="width:50%;"src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/7/7e/Tn-2013Pelletts.png"/>
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<span style="text-align:justify;" class="tn-caption center"><b>Figure 5: </b> amilCP production upon photoinduction. <i>E. coli</i> NEB10&beta; tranformed with <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065311">BBa_K1065311</a> were grown in the dark until O.D. 0.6 was reached. The culture was then splitted in two samples and one of them was exposed to a blue LED. The samples were grown overnight and the following morning were pelletted. The image clearly shows how only the photoinduced sample (2) produced amilCP while the control (1) kept in the dark remained white.</span>  
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        <span style="text-align:justify;" class="tn-caption center"><b>Figure 5: </b> amilCP production upon photoinduction. <i>E. coli</i> NEB10&beta; tranformed with <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065311">BBa_K1065311</a> were grown in the dark until O.D. 0.6 was reached. The culture was then splitted in two samples and one of them was exposed to a blue LED. The samples were grown overnight and the following morning were pelletted. The image clearly shows how only the photoinduced sample (2) produced amilCP while the control (1) kept in the dark remained white.</span>  
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<span class="tn-subtitle">EFE in B. subtilis</span>
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        <span class="tn-subtitle">EFE in B. subtilis</span>
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<p>
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        <p>
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In order to transform <i>B. subtilis</i> with EFE, we decided to exploit two type of vectors designed by the <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:LMU-Munich/Data/Vectors">LMU-Munich 2012 iGEM team</a>: pXyl and pSpac. These two vectors were not functionally active: pXyl had a point mutation resulting in a non-transformable vector, and pSpac had a point mutation in the promoter resulting in a non-inducible but constitutive vector. We received from the LMU-Munich team the <b>corrected and functionally active version of both plasmids</b> (functionality was characterized by them).
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            In order to transform <i>B. subtilis</i> with EFE, we decided to exploit two type of vectors designed by the <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:LMU-Munich/Data/Vectors">LMU-Munich 2012 iGEM team</a>: pXyl and pSpac. These two vectors were not functionally active: pXyl had a point mutation resulting in a non-transformable vector, and pSpac had a point mutation in the promoter resulting in a non-inducible but constitutive vector. We received from the LMU-Munich team the <b>corrected and functionally active version of both plasmids</b> (functionality was characterized by them).
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</p>
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        </p>
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/8/85/Tn-2013-project_ethylene-BBa_K1065001.jpg" />
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        <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/8/85/Tn-2013-project_ethylene-BBa_K1065001.jpg" />
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<p>
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        <p>
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EFE was inserted in two <i>B. subtilis</i> plasmids under the control of two different inducible promoters. We tried to express EFE and measure ethylene by GC. However, ethylene was not detected. We are now trying to understand if it is a problem of expression or functionality of the enzyme.
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            EFE was inserted in two <i>B. subtilis</i> plasmids under the control of two different inducible promoters. We tried to express EFE and measure ethylene by GC. However, ethylene was not detected. We are now trying to understand if it is a problem of expression or functionality of the enzyme.
  Interestingly, induced samples showed a distinct smell of sulfur. The presence of sulfur was confirmed by exposure of the culture to a lead acetate paper strip.  One hypothesis could be that  <i>B. subtilis</i> is capable of converting rapidly ethylene into other mercapto-compounds.
  Interestingly, induced samples showed a distinct smell of sulfur. The presence of sulfur was confirmed by exposure of the culture to a lead acetate paper strip.  One hypothesis could be that  <i>B. subtilis</i> is capable of converting rapidly ethylene into other mercapto-compounds.
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</p>
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        </p>
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<span class="tn-subtitle">Ethylene diffusion in jars</span>
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        <span class="tn-subtitle">Ethylene diffusion in jars</span>
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<p>
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        <p>
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Our ripening machine device is composed of a jar connected to a flask with induced ethylene-producing culture, where the jar contains the fruit to be ripened. A kinetic assay of ethylene in the atmosphere inside our system (jar, connector and flask) was performed by Micro Gas Chromatography and ethylene diffusion from the culture medium was predicted assuming inverse proportionality between detected ethylene and air/culture volume ratio. The estimated data were compared to the results of the kinetic assay as reported in <b>Table 2</b>.
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            Our ripening machine device is composed of a jar connected to a flask with induced ethylene-producing culture, where the jar contains the fruit to be ripened. A kinetic assay of ethylene in the atmosphere inside our system (jar, connector and flask) was performed by Micro Gas Chromatography and ethylene diffusion from the culture medium was predicted assuming inverse proportionality between detected ethylene and air/culture volume ratio. The estimated data were compared to the results of the kinetic assay as reported in <b>Table 2</b>.
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</p>
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        </p>
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<table>
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        <table>
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<tr>
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            <tr>
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<th>
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                <th>
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Jar volume (ml)
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                    Jar volume (ml)
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</th>
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                </th>
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<th>
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                <th>
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Air volume in the jar + connections (ml)
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                    Air volume in the jar + connections (ml)
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</th>
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                </th>
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<th>
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                <th>
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Culture volume (ml)
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                    Culture volume (ml)
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</th>
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                </th>
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<th>
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                <th>
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Air/culture volumes ratio
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                    Air/culture volumes ratio
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</th>
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                </th>
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<th>
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                <th>
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Concentration Expected
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                    Concentration Expected
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</th>
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                </th>  
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</tr>
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            </tr>  
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<tr>
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            <tr>
-
<td>
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                <td>
-
500
+
                    500        
-
</td>
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                </td>
-
<td>
+
                <td>
-
800
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                    800
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</td>
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                </td>
-
<td>
+
                <td>
-
300
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                    300
-
</td>
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                </td>
-
<td>
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                <td>
-
2.66
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                    2.66
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</td>
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                </td>
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<td>
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                <td>
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150.37
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                    150.37
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</td>
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                </td>
-
</tr>
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            </tr>
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<tr>
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            <tr>
-
<td>
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                    <td>
-
1000
+
                        1000
-
</td>
+
                    </td>  
-
<td>
+
                    <td>
-
1300
+
                        1300
-
</td>
+
                    </td>
-
<td>
+
                    <td>
-
300
+
                        300
-
</td>
+
                    </td>
-
<td>
+
                    <td>
-
4.33
+
                        4.33
-
</td>
+
                    </td>
-
<td>
+
                    <td>
-
92.37
+
                        92.37
-
</td>
+
                    </td>
-
</tr>
+
            </tr>
-
<tr>
+
            <tr>
-
<td>
+
                <td>
-
1500
+
                    1500
-
</td>
+
                </td>  
-
<td>
+
                <td>
-
1800
+
                    1800
-
</td>
+
                </td>
-
<td>
+
                <td>
-
300
+
                    300
-
</td>
+
                </td>
-
<td>
+
                <td>
-
6
+
                    6
-
</td>
+
                </td>
-
<td>
+
                <td>
-
66.66
+
                    66.66
-
</td>
+
                </td>
-
</tr>
+
            </tr>
-
</table>
+
        </table>  
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<span class="tn-caption center"><b>Table 2:</b> prediction of ethylene diffusion in jars.</span>
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        <span class="tn-caption center"><b>Table 2:</b> prediction of ethylene diffusion in jars.</span>
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<br/>
+
        <br/>
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/1/1d/Tn-2013_eth_diff_apparatus.JPG" style="display:inline-block;width:40%;border:2px solid white;box-shadow:2px 2px 4px #323232;" class="photo"/>
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        <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/1/1d/Tn-2013_eth_diff_apparatus.JPG" style="display:inline-block;width:40%;border:2px solid white;box-shadow:2px 2px 4px #323232;" class="photo"/>
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/a/af/Ethylene_diffusion_in_jars.png" style="display:inline-block;width: 58%;height: 307px;border:2px solid white;box-shadow:2px 2px 4px #323232;" class="plot"/>
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        <img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/a/af/Ethylene_diffusion_in_jars.png" style="display:inline-block;width: 58%;height: 307px;border:2px solid white;box-shadow:2px 2px 4px #323232;" class="plot"/>
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<span class="tn-caption"><b>Fig 6:</b> In the left panel, experimental set-up for kinetic measurment of ethylene diffusion. In the right panel, comparison between detected and expected ethylene values. 300 ml of NEB10&beta; cells transformed with <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065001">BBa_K1065001</a> were induced at O.D. 0.5 and placed into a 500 ml flasks connected to a jar. The jar was simultaneusly connected to the Agilent A3000 micro GC, and a measurment was taken every 45 min for about 12 h.</span>
+
        <span class="tn-caption"><b>Fig 6:</b> In the left panel, experimental set-up for kinetic measurement of ethylene diffusion. In the right panel, comparison between detected and expected ethylene values. 300 ml of NEB10&beta; cells transformed with <a href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1065001">BBa_K1065001</a> were induced at O.D. 0.5 and placed into a 500 ml flasks connected to a jar. The jar was simultaneusly connected to the Agilent A3000 micro GC, and a measurment was taken every 45 min for about 12 h.</span>
-
<span class="tn-quote center">Interestingly, we underextimated the ethylene level in the jars!</span>
+
        <span class="tn-quote center">Interestingly, we underextimated the ethylene level in the jars!</span>
-
<span class="tn-title">Ethylene experiments - Summary</span>
+
        <span class="tn-title">Ethylene experiments - Summary</span>
-
<p>
+
        <p>
-
2-Oxoglutarate Oxygenase/Decarboxylase (EFE) is a very powerful enzyme that we successfully characterized. We achieved the following results:
+
            2-Oxoglutarate Oxygenase/Decarboxylase (EFE) is a very powerful enzyme that we successfully characterized. We achieved the following results:
-
</p>
+
        </p>
-
<ul>
+
        <ul>
-
<li>
+
            <li>
-
EFE was expressed under the control of an arabinose inducible promoter in <i>E. coli</i>;
+
                EFE was expressed under the control of an arabinose inducible promoter in <i>E. coli</i>;
-
</li>
+
            </li>
-
<li>
+
            <li>
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ethylene was detected at the Micro Gas Chromatograph and a quantitative kinetic curve was registered;
+
                ethylene was detected at the Micro Gas Chromatograph and a quantitative kinetic curve was registered;
-
</li>
+
            </li>
-
<li>
+
            <li>
-
EFE was then inserted into a photoinducible promoter and preliminary analysis showed ethylene production (unfortunately also in the dark control);
+
                EFE was then inserted into a photoinducible promoter and preliminary analysis showed ethylene production (unfortunately also in the dark control);
-
</li>
+
            </li>
-
<li>
+
            <li>
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EFE was inserted into <i>B. subtilis</i> expression vectors, unfortunately ethylene was not detected upon expression;
+
                EFE was inserted into <i>B. subtilis</i> expression vectors, unfortunately ethylene was not detected upon expression;
-
</li>
+
            </li>
-
<li>
+
            <li>
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successfully demonstrated and quantified the presence of ethylene in the jars;
+
                successfully demonstrated and quantified the presence of ethylene in the jars;
-
</li>
+
            </li>  
-
<li>
+
            <li>
-
our system was successfully exploited to accelerate fruit ripening.
+
                our system was successfully exploited to accelerate fruit ripening.
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</li>
+
            </li>
-
</ul>
+
        </ul>
-
<br/>
+
        <br/>
-
<span class="tn-effect">We succeeded in producing ethylene with our system!</span>
+
        <span class="tn-effect">We succeeded in producing ethylene with our system!</span>
<span class="tn-effect">Follow our results to discover how we used it to ripen fruit.</span>
<span class="tn-effect">Follow our results to discover how we used it to ripen fruit.</span>
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<img style="width:60%;" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2013/a/a9/Tn-2013_fruit_exp_pic.jpg" />
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    <a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:UNITN-Trento/Project/Introduction">
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    <a href="https://2013.igem.org/Team:UNITN-Trento/Project/Methyl%20Salicylate">
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Revision as of 12:59, 3 October 2013

Results - Ethylene

EFE (Ethylene Forming Enzyme - 2-Oxoglutarate Oxygenase/Decarboxylase) is our keyplayer in triggering fruit ripening. It catalyzes ethylene synthesis from 2-Oxoglutarate, a TCA cycle intermediate molecule (Goto M., Plant and Cell Physiology 2012, 26: 141-150).

Ethylene pathway

We characterized this gene in two chassis: E. coli and B. subtilis, using different constructs that we designed.

EFE in E. coli E. coli EFE parts

In E. coli, EFE-catalyzed ethylene production was characterized using BBa_K1065001, which is a composed part with EFE under the control of an araC-pBAD promoter.

Ethylene detection

Ethylene production was detected using a Micro Gas Chromatograph (see the protocol page for the adopted methodology, Figure 1). The instrument was calibrated using two different air mixtures with well-defined quantities of each molecule (carbon dioxide, oxygen and ethylene).

Ethylene chromatogram Fig. 1: Ethylene production. E. coli NEB10β cells transformed with BBa_K1065001 were grown in a thermoshaker until an O.D. of 0.5, placed in hermetically closed vials with a rubber septum and induced with 5 mM arabinose. Ethylene was measured after 4 hours of induction at 37 °C by connecting the vial to an Agilent Micro GC 3000.

To quantify the amount of ethylene produced the peak integral was converted into ppm.

Sample Ethylene detected
Not induced 0 ± 15 ppm
Induced V = 1.5 ml 61 ± 15 ppm
Induced V = 3 ml 101 ± 15 ppm
Table. 1: ethylene detected quantities. Kinetic assay for ethylene production

We performed a kinetic assay in order to analyze ethylene production over time (see the protocol page for the adopted method).

kinetic_EFE_plot
Fig. 2: Ethylene production (ppm) over time (min) of E. coli NEB10β cells transformed with BBa_K1065001, induced with 5 mM arabinose at different O.D.600 and cultured in different conditions. The control (not-induced sample) did not show any amount of ethylene.

Figure 2 shows that induction of the culture at O.D.600 equal to 0.8 caused a 2-fold increase in ethylene production.

Toxicity test

A toxicity test was performed inducing EFE expression with 5 mM arabinose (Figure 3). The growth curve was then compared to a non-induced sample.

Toxicity test plot Fig. 3: growth curves of E. coli NEB10β cells transformed with BBa_K1065001 and of controls.

As expected, induced samples showed a decreased growth rate.

EFE under the control of a Blue light circuit in E. coli e.coli_bluelight-EFE_parts

To build our final system we placed EFE under the control of a photoinducible circuit. We assembled the photoinducible circuit exploiting many subparts from different teams (Uppsala 2011 and Berkeley 2006). The construct BBa_K1065311 includes an inverter that allows ethylene production only in presence of light. For more details on the design and characterization of the circuit check the blue light page of our wiki.

Photoinduced ethylene production - kinetic assay

We performed a kinetic assay in order to analyze ethylene production over time using BBa_K1065311 (Figure 4). At an O.D. of 0.7, the culture was transferred to an hermetically closed vial and exposed to a blue light LED (470 nm). This airtight vial was also connected to the micro GC (see the protocol page for the adopted method).

EFE-blue_light_plot
Fig. 4: Ethylene production (ppm) upon photoinduction with a blue LED light over time (min) of E. coli NEB10β cells transformed with BBa_K1065311. When we first obtained these results we were really excited. However, the negative control (dark) showed also some ethylene production. The DNA sequencing also indicated some problems in the construct. We have recently fixed this part, confirmed it by sequencing, and submitted it to the registry. We did not have the possibility yet to test it for ethylene production. However the part is able to produce amilCP when photoinduced. Since the blue reporter correctly appeared only in the induced sample, we think that ethylene could be properly detected.

Figure 5: amilCP production upon photoinduction. E. coli NEB10β tranformed with BBa_K1065311 were grown in the dark until O.D. 0.6 was reached. The culture was then splitted in two samples and one of them was exposed to a blue LED. The samples were grown overnight and the following morning were pelletted. The image clearly shows how only the photoinduced sample (2) produced amilCP while the control (1) kept in the dark remained white. EFE in B. subtilis

In order to transform B. subtilis with EFE, we decided to exploit two type of vectors designed by the LMU-Munich 2012 iGEM team: pXyl and pSpac. These two vectors were not functionally active: pXyl had a point mutation resulting in a non-transformable vector, and pSpac had a point mutation in the promoter resulting in a non-inducible but constitutive vector. We received from the LMU-Munich team the corrected and functionally active version of both plasmids (functionality was characterized by them).

EFE was inserted in two B. subtilis plasmids under the control of two different inducible promoters. We tried to express EFE and measure ethylene by GC. However, ethylene was not detected. We are now trying to understand if it is a problem of expression or functionality of the enzyme. Interestingly, induced samples showed a distinct smell of sulfur. The presence of sulfur was confirmed by exposure of the culture to a lead acetate paper strip. One hypothesis could be that B. subtilis is capable of converting rapidly ethylene into other mercapto-compounds.

Ethylene diffusion in jars

Our ripening machine device is composed of a jar connected to a flask with induced ethylene-producing culture, where the jar contains the fruit to be ripened. A kinetic assay of ethylene in the atmosphere inside our system (jar, connector and flask) was performed by Micro Gas Chromatography and ethylene diffusion from the culture medium was predicted assuming inverse proportionality between detected ethylene and air/culture volume ratio. The estimated data were compared to the results of the kinetic assay as reported in Table 2.

Jar volume (ml) Air volume in the jar + connections (ml) Culture volume (ml) Air/culture volumes ratio Concentration Expected
500 800 300 2.66 150.37
1000 1300 300 4.33 92.37
1500 1800 300 6 66.66
Table 2: prediction of ethylene diffusion in jars.
Fig 6: In the left panel, experimental set-up for kinetic measurement of ethylene diffusion. In the right panel, comparison between detected and expected ethylene values. 300 ml of NEB10β cells transformed with BBa_K1065001 were induced at O.D. 0.5 and placed into a 500 ml flasks connected to a jar. The jar was simultaneusly connected to the Agilent A3000 micro GC, and a measurment was taken every 45 min for about 12 h. Interestingly, we underextimated the ethylene level in the jars! Ethylene experiments - Summary

2-Oxoglutarate Oxygenase/Decarboxylase (EFE) is a very powerful enzyme that we successfully characterized. We achieved the following results:

  • EFE was expressed under the control of an arabinose inducible promoter in E. coli;
  • ethylene was detected at the Micro Gas Chromatograph and a quantitative kinetic curve was registered;
  • EFE was then inserted into a photoinducible promoter and preliminary analysis showed ethylene production (unfortunately also in the dark control);
  • EFE was inserted into B. subtilis expression vectors, unfortunately ethylene was not detected upon expression;
  • successfully demonstrated and quantified the presence of ethylene in the jars;
  • our system was successfully exploited to accelerate fruit ripening.

We succeeded in producing ethylene with our system! Follow our results to discover how we used it to ripen fruit.
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