We ordered 60mer FAM-labeled [A] (TALE A target sequence) and hybridized them with their reverse complement oligo to make double stranded pieces of DNA containing the target sequence of our TALEs. Using these target sequences and following the <a href="http://2013.igem.org/Team:Calgary/Notebook/Protocols/FunctionalityAssayOnNitrocellulose" >TALE Nitrocellulose Functionality Assay</a>, we showed that TALEA binds to its target sequence. We incubated Ferritin fused to an Ecoil (<a href="https://parts.igem.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K1189018" >BBa_K1189018</a>) to TALE fused to a Kcoil (<a href="https://parts.igem.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K1189029" >BBa_K1189029</a>) to make the FerriTALE complex. The complex was then blotted on strips of nitrocellulose paper. The strips were then blocked with milk and soaked in the appropriate DNA solution. Finally, the strips were washed and imaged (figure 14 and 15). We performed a densitometery test on these results and were able to calculate the dissociation constant of the TALEs.
+
</p>
<figure>
<figure>
Line 65:
Line 76:
</figcaption>
</figcaption>
</figure>
</figure>
+
+
+
<p>We also wanted to show that our TALEs are specific to their target sequence. So we did another experiment to test whether TALEA fused to a Kcoil (<a href="https://parts.igem.org/wiki/index.php?title=Part:BBa_K1189029" >BBa_K1189029</a>) can bind to the TALE B target site ([B]). This experiment showed that TALEA only binds to [A] and not [B]. We showed not only that <span class="Yellow"><b>TALEs bind DNA</b></span> , they are also <span class="Yellow"><b>specific</b></span> to their own target site (Figure 6).
<p><b>Figure 6.</b> (A) A Dot blot of TALE A on nitrocellulose paper (<a href="http://2013.igem.org/Team:Calgary/Notebook/Protocols/FunctionalityAssayOnNitrocellulose" >protocol</a>). A6 is TALE A soaked in 1.66mM FAM labeled [B] TALE B target sequence. A7 is TALE A soaked in 1.66mM FAM labeled [A] TALE A target sequence. A2 is TALE A soaked in 1mM FAM labeled [B] TALE B target sequence. A3 is TALE A soaked in 1mM FAM labeled [A] TALE A target sequence. On A- strip no protein was blotted and it was soaked in 1.66mM [A]. All strips were soaked in DNA solution for 90 minutes. (B) 1µL of the DNA solutions used for soaking were blotted on nitrocellulose and a picture was taken instantly, to indicate that both [A] and [B] fluoresce to the same extent. All the DNA solutions contained 1900ng/uL salmon sperm DNA as a competitor for the TALE target site.
E/K coils are synthetic coiled-coil domains designed specifically to bind to each other with high affinity and specificity (Litowski and Hodges, 2002) (Figure 1). They are composed of a heptad repeat that forms a coil structures that are able to interact with each other. These coils are able to interact with each other in an anti-parallel fashion that makes them useful for applications such as peptide capture, protein purification and in biosensors. For our project we decided to make use of the IAAL E3/K3 coils (BBa_K118901, BBa_K1189011) due to the balance they offer between affinity and specificity (Table 1).
Table 1. Coil Peptide Sequences
Coil Name
Peptide Sequence
IAAL E3
NH2-EIAALEKEIAALEKEIAALEK-COOH
IAAL K3
NH2-KIAALKEKIAALKEKIAALKE-COOH
These E3/K3 coils are able to form heterodimers due to the hydrophobic residues contained within the heptad repeat. In our case these are isoleucine and leucine residues. Designated by empty arrows in the helical wheel diagram below (Figure 2) these residues form the core of the binding domain of the coils. In order to prevent the homodimerization of these coils charged residues are included in the design. The electrostatic interactions between glutamic acid and lysine residues prevent an E-coil from binding with an E-coil for example. These parts were already in the registry, however the DNA was never received, so we built, sequenced and re-submitted them.