Part:BBa_K190019:Experience

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Applications of BBa_K190019

fMT can be used to sequester metal ions like arsenite (As-III) or arsenate (As-V), this can be used to give the bacterium a higher resistance against arsenic. But the protein can also be used as a delay system together with a metal sensitive promoter (as BBa_K190023), as it sequesters the arsenic as soon as it enters the cell. Upon overexpression of the protein it would take some time before it is saturated and free arsenic can reach the promoter regulator protein (like ArsR). Alternatively the protein can be used to use bacteria for biomining of arsenic, as the presence of rare metals will also become less prominent, like the fossil oil problem the earth just has a maximum amount of some compounds.

User Reviews

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•• iGEM Groningen 2009

The capacity of fMT to enhance the arsenite accumulation in E. coli was tested using an arsenite uptake [http://2009.igem.org/Team:Groningen/Protocols assay]. But unfortunately the arsenic concentration determined by ICP-MS was not reproducible and did not show enhanced arsenite accumulation in E. coli carrying fMT (induced by lactose).

••• iGEM Dundee 2011

We found the sequence of this part to be correct as listed and modified it by the addition of a microcompartment targeting domain and an HA epitope tag (as BBa_K562018). This will allow better monitoring of production of the protein. Indeed, we could detect production of this fusion in E. coli using an anti-HA monoclonal antibody. We did not get the chance to test arsenic resistance in a host cell producing this part.

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•• iGEM Tokyo_NokoGen 2011

We fused fMT (K190019) to PduP1-18 tag protein (BBa_K519014), that is known to be encapsulated into PduBMC (propanediol-utilization bacterial micro compartment). We observed its growth curve at OD595 in different Cd(II) concentrations, and found that E. coli expressing PduP1~18-fMT resisted medium of higher Cd(II) concentration than the E. coli that does not express fMT. We found that fMT still functions as a metallothionein even when fused to a tag protein, and that it is probably binding to Cd(II). http://2011.igem.org/Team:Tokyo-NoKoGen/metallothionein