Part:BBa_K1463001

Recombinase Switch With GFP

PhiC31-based recombinase switch with GFP to the right and a leftward facing promoter so that PhiC31 integrase switches on GFP expression (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Diagram showing the construct used for the in vitro characterisation of the switch. Diagram shows the integrase switch containing a HinDIII restriction site. Once exposed to integrase, the inserted DNA sequence results in the promoter (shown by a red arrow) to be orientated towards GFP, resulting in it’s expression. Also seen here is the HinDIII site contained within the switch, which moves when the DNA is inverted.

Recombination was tested in vitro by combining plasmid DNA containing the part with purified phiC31 integrase, which causes the DNA sequence to invert. The HindIII sites are placed in such a way that the bands produced by restriction digest, together with PstI, change depending on whether inversion has occured or not. This pattern can be seen in the gel (Figure 2).

Fig.2 In vitro recombination of BBa_K1463001 and BBa_K1463002 switch using purified phiC31 integrase incubated at 30C for 2 hours. Plasmid DNA was then cut with PstI and HindIII, which produces different fragment sizes depending on the orientation of the switch. This was run on a 1.0% agarose gel. The gel shows a duplication of the same experiment.GFP32 and GFP denote the two different ribosome binding sites - BBa_B0034 and BBa_B0032
1. Switch & GFP34 – 8uM int. 2. Switch & GFP34 – 4uM int. 3. Switch & GFP34 – 0uM int.
4. Switch & GFP32 – 8uM int. 5. Switch & GFP32 – 4uM int. 6. Switch & GFP34 – 0uM int.
7. Switch & GFP34 – 8uM int. 8.Switch & GFP34 – 4uM int. 9. Switch & GFP34 – 0uM int.
10. Switch & GFP32 – 8uM int. 11. Switch & GFP32 – 4uM int. 12. Switch & GFP34 – 0uM int.

After the recombination reaction the promoter is orientated in the correct direction to drive expression of GFP. This can be seen when the plasmid is transformed into cells. Figure 3 shows the difference between colonies expressing GFP and those which are not. Also shown in Figure 3 is the comparison with part BBa_K1463002, where it can be seen the stronger ribosome binding site BBa_B0034 produces more brightly fluorescing colonies.

Fig.3 Transformed colonies containing the switch plus GFP. The weaker ribosome binding site produces less brightly fluorescing colonies. Colonies transformed with plasmids that were never exposed to integrase do not fluoresce.
1. GFP34 + 8uM int. 2. GFP32 + 8uM int. 3. GFP32 + 0uM int.

Sequence and Features

Assembly Compatibility:

• 10
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
• 12
  INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]

  Illegal NheI site found at 82
  Illegal NheI site found at 105
  
• 21
  INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]

  Illegal BamHI site found at 62
  
• 23
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
• 25
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]
• 1000
  INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]

  Illegal BsaI.rc site found at 937