Part:BBa_K2587024
luxI_luxR_Plux_E
This part is an assembly of different constructs, which then yield a final plasmid, able to self lyse Escherichia coli cells. It is a construct based on the Quorum sensing system of Vibrio fischeri. With the addition of a lysis gene it will induce cell lysis upon synthesis of the quorum sensing molecule acyl homoserine lactone. Upon synthesis of this by the LuxI gene, it will bind to the regulator LuxR and then to the promoter pLux, which will activate synthesis of the lysis protein E from the bacteriophage phiX174E.
Usage and Biology
- Acyl homoserine lactone synthase : LuxI
- Regulator: LuxR
- Promoter: pLux, inducible by the quorum sensing molecule acyl homoserine lactone bound to LuxR
- Lysis gene: Lysis gene E from bacteriophage phiX174E
- Lysis protein induces host cell lysis by inhibiting host translocase MraY activity, which is necessary for catalysis of lipid I , a factor for cell wall synthesis (Cytolysis) (1)
- This construct is able to modify E.coli´s growth, by slowing it down
- This part contains Type II S restriction sites and can be further used for scarless assembly with other parts
Sequence and Features
- 10COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
- 12INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]Illegal NheI site found at 7
Illegal NheI site found at 30
Illegal NheI site found at 829
Illegal NheI site found at 852 - 21INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]Illegal BglII site found at 1082
- 23COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
- 25COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]
- 1000INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]Illegal BsaI site found at 892
Illegal BsaI site found at 1681
Illegal BsaI site found at 1832
Illegal BsaI.rc site found at 1523
Illegal BsaI.rc site found at 1790
Characterization
Characterisation of promoter by fluorescence measurement of GFP
To check whether the promoter, pLux, is really induced by the binding of the acyl homoserine lactone to the LuxR, a further construct (BBa_K2587027) is created which has the lysis gene E exchanged by a GFP gene. Here the relative fluorescence units are measured in comparison to the wild type E.coli cells.
Results It can clearly be observed, that fluorescence increases upon growth of the cells. Wild type cells, as a negative control, show little or no fluorescence at all.
Figure 1: Relative fluorescence measurement of lysis construct and E.coli wild type cells (negative control). Exctinction: 485nm; Emission: 520nm. Cells were measured only within a time span of 24h.
Characterization using growth measurement by OD 600
We analysed this construct by measuring the optical density of wild type E.coli BL21 (DE3) C43 cells, and the corresponding transformants harbouring the lysis construct.
After one day incubation, cells were diluted to an OD of 0.1 in LB medium with 100µg/mL final ampicillin concentration. 200µl were then added to a 96 well plate and OD600 has been measured at 37°C at 200 rpm shaking for a total of 24 hours.
Results Growth is clearly influenced by the presence of the lysis plasmid as compared to the wild type E.coli cells. Cells harbouring this plasmid grow slower. Observation of their growth shows a remissive exponential phase, reaching the stationary phase with a lower cell density than wild type.
Figure 2: Growth of E.coli wildtype and E.coli with the lysis plasmid. Cell lysis was not directly measured, but derived from the OD600, which is a measurement of intact cells in the suspension.
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