Part:BBa_K638001:Experience

Applications of BBa_K638001

When extracted and purified, this protein can be used to make optical devices including thin films and diffraction gratings as has been demonstated by [http://www.nature.com/nmat/journal/v6/n7/full/nmat1930.html Kramer et al, 2007.] Additionally, Cambridge iGEM Team 2011 further developed the method for making [http://2011.igem.org/Team:Cambridge/Experiments/Thin_Films thin films].

First the protein must be dissolved in an ionic solvent such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexafluoro-2-propanol HFIP] (hazardous - use in a fume hood) and then can be coated onto a highly clean smooth substrate. Silicon Wafers and glass microscope slides have been shown to work. A razorblade can be used to scrape across a single drop to form a thin film, but more uniform results can be achieved with the use of a [http://2011.igem.org/Team:Cambridge#/Protocols/Flow_coating flow coater] or a [http://2011.igem.org/Team:Cambridge#/Protocols/Spin_Coating spin coater device].

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  Fig.1 Schematic diagram of the flow-coating technique for casting thin films of reflectin protein onto a silicon-wafer substrate. Image taken from [http://www.nature.com/nmat/journal/v6/n7/full/nmat1930.html Kramer et al, 2007.]

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  Fig.2 Reflectin films exhibiting uniform thicknesses cast from a 15% w/w (left) and 10% w/w (right) reflectin/HFIP solution. Scale bar: 2 cm. Image taken from [http://www.nature.com/nmat/journal/v6/n7/full/nmat1930.html Kramer et al, 2007.]

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  Fig.3 One of the first reflectin films prepared by Cambridge iGEM Team 2011.

Compatibility

Has been shown to work with plasmids:

• pSB1A3
• pSB3K3
• pSB1C3

On high copy-plasmids such as pSB1A3, this protein has been shown to go into inclusion bodies.

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