Part:BBa_K1149051
Hybrid promoter phaCAB
Introduction: optimised bioplastic producing operon
In R. eutropha cells, P(3HB) is made through 3 steps. Two acetyl-CoA molecules made from carbohydrate converted to acetoacetyl-CoA by acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase encoded by PhaA gene. Then acetoacetyl-CoA reductase encoded by PhaB gene catalyzes the reduction of acetoacetyl-CoA to (R)-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA (3HB-CoA). Finally, P(3HB) synthase encoded by PhaC gene catalyzes polymerization reaction of monomer molecules to polymer P(3HB) [2].
We cloned the constitutive promoter J23104+ RBS B0034 upstream of the native phaCAB promoter and the phaCAB operon. Thus this part consists of a hybrid promoter system, which functions as an optimised bioplastic producing operon.
See our expanding Bioplastic production parts collection: Hybrid phaCAB, Constitutive phaCAB, and Native phaCAB.
Increased production of P(3HB)
The Imperial College iGEM team have successfully purified P(3HB) from E. coli. (MG1655) transformed with either native phaCAB (BBa_K934001 or hybrid promoter phaCAB (BBa_K1149051). Our novel Biobrick hybrid promoter phaCAB (BBa_K1149051) produces significantly more P(3HB) than the native phaCAB operon. To find more information about the reasons for improvement, the design and methods of changing the promoter on Imperial iGEM wiki: [http://2013.igem.org/Team:Imperial_College/BioPlastic_Recycling:_PHB PHB recycling.]
3HB Assay: Confirming production of 3HB
 The chemical analysis of the produced bioplastic. The samples break break down to 3HB monomers after treatment with our PhaZ1 enzyme (BBa_K1149010). We synthesised P(3HB) using our improved Biobrick part (hybrid promoter phaCAB, BBa_K1149051). Our engineered bioplastic producing E. coli synthesised P(3HB) directly from waste. Imperial iGEM data |
Production of P(3HB): Microscopy
Streaking the bacteria on Nile Red plates cannot be used to accurately decide the difference between P3HB production due to the effect differing thicknesses of cell layers will have on fluorescence intensity. We imaged the cells using the fluorescent microscope to qualitatively understand how much P3HB is produced per cell. As indicated by other authors, we saw that P3HB is found in localised granules within the bacteria. Empty vector containing cells show little fluorescence. In those that do, the staining is qualitatively different than in the phaCAB containing strains. Nile Red is also used as a lipid stain and this is indicated by its staining of the membranes of EV cells. In contrast, in phaCAB containing cells, staining is restricted to points within the cells.
Each fluorescent image was created by exciting the stain at 530nm for 100ms. Despite this standard treatment of samples the intensity of fluorescence produced by the cells containing the hybrid promoter is greater than from the constitutive ones. This could indicate a difference in the strength of the promoters which lead to phaCAB expression and therefore the amount of P3HB produced. The images also suggest that not every single E.coli is stained. This may be due to the conditions in which the cells were grown or may be dependent upon the stage in the lifecycle of the E.coli.
 Fluorescent microscope images of E.coli stained with Nile Red. 1 -Empty vector, 2 - constitutive promoter phaCAB, 3 - hybrid promoter phaCAB. Images labelled a are fluorescent images excited at 530nm ovelaid on the bright field images shown in the b set of images. Images by Imperial College iGEM Team |
Production of P(3HB): Nile Red Staining
O/N cultures of MG1655 transformed with either control (empty vector), native, constitutive or hybrid phaCAB constructs were spread onto LB-agar plates with 3% glucose and Nile red staining.
Conclusion: The red staining indicates the production of P(3HB). More importantly our new Biobricks hybrid promoter phaCAB BBa_K1149051 and constitutive phaCAB BBa_K1149052 produce more P(3HB) than the native phaCAB operon To find more information about the reasons for improvement, the design and methods of changing the promoter on Imperial iGEM wiki: [http://2013.igem.org/Team:Imperial_College/Waste_Degradation:_SRF Module 1: Waste to bioplastic]
Characterisation
phaCAB biobrick
MG1655 in LB with plasmid EV and the native, constitutive and hybrid promoters for phaCAB. The plasmids all show similar growth curves in LB for all 3 promoters. Indeed this is confirmed by an ANOVA test, which shows no significance in terms of growth difference the constructs (F 3,24 = 0.3573, p < 0.7843). Growth was at 37°C with shaking over 6h. Error bars are SEM, n=4. Figure made by Imperial College London 2013 iGEM.
Sole carbon source
Glucose as a sole carbon source in M9S
phaCAB growth in M9S supplemented with glucose. Constitutive phaCAB grows more at higher glucose concentration of 167 mM while the hybrid grows better at a lower glucose concentration of 22 mM. Data points show final time point after 6h growth for each concentration. Growth was at 37°C with shaking over 6h. Error bars are SEM, n=4. Figure made by Imperial College London 2013 iGEM.
Growth on 3HB as sole carbon source
3HB sole carbon source growth in M9S with P3HB synthesis pathway genes. The 3 phaCAB promoter constructs are represented with native phaCAB, constitutive phaCAB and hybrid phaCAB. In addition bdh2 was tested to see whether its presence increased growth for the cells. This was completed with 3 3HB concentrations - 100 μM, 10 mM and 100 mM. ANOVA analysis shows that there is no significant difference between any of the constructs (F 4,10 = 0.1875, p < 0.9396). Data points show final time point after 6h growth for each concentration. Growth was at 37°C with shaking over 6h. Error bars are SEM, n=4. Figure made by Imperial College London 2013 iGEM.
Growth on acetoacetate as sole carbon source
phaCAB promoter constructs in M9S with acetoacetate as sole carbon source. Empty vector shows the least growth of all the constructs of MG1655. The best performing construct is hybrid phaCAB. According to ANOVA analysis, there is no statistical significance between the different phaCAB promoter constructs or EV (F 3,12 = 3.086, p < 0.068) with regard to growth on acetoacetate as a sole carbon source. Data points show final time point after 6h growth for each concentration. Growth was at 37°C with shaking over 6h. Error bars are SEM, n=4. Figure made by Imperial College London 2013 iGEM.
Growth on sole carbon sources
Hybrid promoter in phaCAB growth in sole carbon sources under M9S. MG1655 E. coli transformed with native phaCAB compared to empty vector for sole carbon sources. The trends observed show that there are differences between EV and phaCAB for glucose (p = 0.9715), acetoacetate (p = 0.0176) and 3HB (p = 0.8276). Indeed, hybrid phaCAB grows exceptionally well on acetoacetate, even at low concentrations compared to empty vector which only grows well at 100 mM 3HB. ANOVA analysis concluded that null hypothesis, "The sole carbon sources tested have no effect on growth" must be rejected (F 5,12 = 14.13, p < 0.0001). This shows that there is a difference between individual carbon sources. Data points show final time point after 6h growth for each concentration. Growth was at 37°C with shaking over 6h. Error bars are SEM, n=4. Figure made by Imperial College London 2013 iGEM.
Conclusions: For native promoter and empty vector, there is no significant difference in growth for the same sole carbon source. There is a significant difference however between the different sole carbon sources used. A similar picture is observed with the constitutive promoter for phaCAB. By far, the most interesting result is seen with the hybrid phaCAB promoter. There is a very distinct difference between empty vector and the hybrid, whereby the hybrid phaCAB grows very well with acetoacetate up until 100 mM.
Partial sequence of the hybrid phaCAB construct (BBa_K1149051):
References
References 1. H.Ohara. Change from Oil-based to Bio-based. Sen’i gakkaishi 66, 4.129-132 (2010) 2. Pohlmann, A. et al. Genome sequence of the bioplastic-producing “Knallgas” bacterium Ralstonia eutropha H16. Nature biotechnology 24, 1257–62 (2006).
J23104+B0034-NATIVE promoter (pwt)+RBS- phaCAB
Sequence and Features
- 10COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
- 12INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]Illegal NheI site found at 7
Illegal NheI site found at 30 - 21INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]Illegal BglII site found at 979
Illegal BglII site found at 1804 - 23COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
- 25INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]Illegal NgoMIV site found at 285
Illegal NgoMIV site found at 356
Illegal NgoMIV site found at 956
Illegal NgoMIV site found at 1268
Illegal NgoMIV site found at 1547
Illegal NgoMIV site found at 2199
Illegal NgoMIV site found at 2221 - 1000INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]Illegal BsaI site found at 4065
Functional Parameters
Functional Parameters: Austin_UTexas
Burden Imposed by this Part:
Burden is the percent reduction in the growth rate of E. coli cells transformed with a plasmid containing this BioBrick (± values are 95% confidence limits). This part exhibited a significant burden. Users should be aware that BioBricks with a burden of >20-30% may be susceptible to mutating to become less functional or nonfunctional as an evolutionary consequence of this fitness cost. This risk increases as they used for more bacterial cell divisions or in larger cultures. Users should be especially careful when combining multiple burdensome parts, as plasmids with a total burden of >40% are expected to mutate so quickly that they become unclonable. Refer to any one of the BBa_K3174002 - BBa_K3174007 pages for more information on the methods and other conclusions from a large-scale measurement project conducted by the 2019 Austin_UTexas team.
This functional parameter was added by the 2020 Austin_UTexas team.
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