Part:BBa_K316003

XylE - catechol 2,3-dioxygenase from P.putida with terminator

Catechol or catechol 2,3-dioxygenases (C2,3O) + O(2) is converted by a ring cleavage into 2-hydroxymuconate semialdehyde which is the toxic and bright yellow-coloured substrate1. This is a key enzyme in many (soil) bacterial species used for the degradation of aromatic compounds. Catechol 2,3-dioxygenase2 was originally isolated from Pseudomonas putida and is a homotetramer of C230 monomers. The tetramerization interactions position a ferrous ion critical for enzymatic activity. It has been deduced that intersubunit interaction is essential to produce a functioning enzyme after performing N and C terminal modifications on the monomer. Coming together the subunits generate an active site. The reaction itself takes place within seconds after the addition by Pasteur pipette or spraying of catechol at a 100mM stock solution diluted with DDH20 (used by our lab.) The toxic byproduct is thought to interfere with cell wall integrity and cellular machinery such that exposed cells gradually die.

Safety

Catechol is classed as irritant in the EU but as toxic in the USA, as well as being a possible carcinogen. It should therefore be handled with care and proper safety equipment. More information is available on the Material Safety Data Sheet[http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927131].

Sequence and Features

Assembly Compatibility:

• 10
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
• 12
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]
• 21
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]
• 23
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
• 25
  INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]

  Illegal NgoMIV site found at 337
  Illegal NgoMIV site found at 509
  Illegal AgeI site found at 860
  
• 1000
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]

Part Characterisation

The enzymatic reaction catalysed by C2,3O is an ideal output signal for our engineered bacterial detector and it can also serve as a very useful reporter gene. The substrate - catechol is colourless. However within seconds of its addition, the colonies or liquid cultures of XylE-expressing cells become yellow3, indicating production of a product which absorbs light in the visible spectrum. A spectrophotometric assay was prepared, where the spectra of two cultures of E.coli (one XylE gene transformed and the other not) were compared on addition of 0.1mM Catechol substrate.

Figure I. XylE assay : Peak absorbance of catechol breakdown product (2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde).

A spectrophotometric assay of two cultures of E.coli (Blue: contains BBa_K316004, Red: not expressing XylE ) were compared on addition of 0.1mM Catechol substrate. The spectra show that in XylE transformed cells, a broad peak appears at about 380nm. The absorbance at this particular wavelength is by the product of the C2,3O reaction which is called 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde and is what causes the yellow output.

Characterisation data was obtained for GFP-XylE constructs BBa_K316008 and XylE under two different promoters. First is the B. subtilis derived Pveg BBa_K316005, the second promoter - J23101 BBa_K316004 from E. coli. These are described in our wiki[http://2010.igem.org/Team:Imperial_College_London/Results] and the relevant parts pages.

References

<biblio>

1. 1 pmid=10368270
2. 2 pmid=12519074
3. 3 pmid=6405380

</biblio>