Team:Paris Bettencourt/Experiments/T7 diffusion experiments

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<h1>Testing nanotubes with T7 RNA polymerase diffusion</h1>
<h1>Testing nanotubes with T7 RNA polymerase diffusion</h1>
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<h2>Summary</h2>
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<p>All our experiments followed our <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiments/Microscopy">microscopy protocol</a> when not specified otherwise.</p>
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<div style="margin-left:50px; margin-right:50px; padding: 5px; border:2px solid black;"><b><p>Results for the YFP concentrator:
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<ul>
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<li>We've done <i>E.coli</i> to <i>B.subtilis</i> (T7 autoloop in a plasmid) diffusion experiments (with negative results)</li>
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    <li>We've done <i>B.subtilis</i> to <i>B.subtilis</i> (T7 autoloop in a plasmid and in the genome) diffusion experiments (with negative results)</li>
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    <li>We've done <i>B.subtilis</i> to <i>B.subtilis</i> (chromosomal T7 autoloop) diffusion experiments in our microfluidic chip observed indirect evidence of nanotube-assisted diffusion</li>
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</ul></p></b></div>
<h2>Design overview</h2>
<h2>Design overview</h2>
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<p> More details on the design are available <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/T7_diffusion">here</a>.</p>
<p> More details on the design are available <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/T7_diffusion">here</a>.</p>
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<h2>Summary</h2>
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<h2>Emitter construct in <i>E.coli</i> - Receiver construct in <i>B.subtilis</i> (plasmid)</h2>
<h2>Emitter construct in <i>E.coli</i> - Receiver construct in <i>B.subtilis</i> (plasmid)</h2>
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</html>
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{| border="1" class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
{| border="1" class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
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|+T7 emitter RFP + Control in B.subtilis at 37°C
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|+E.Coli T7 emitter + B.subtilis T7 Autoloop in exponantial phase at 37°C
|-
|-
|[[File:T7emColi T7autoBS trans 0.jpg|450px|thumb|center|Coli T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop  at 37°C  (trans image)]]
|[[File:T7emColi T7autoBS trans 0.jpg|450px|thumb|center|Coli T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop  at 37°C  (trans image)]]
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|-
|-
|[[File:T7emColi T7autoBS trans 125.jpg|450px|thumb|center|Coli T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop after 125min at 37°C  (trans image)]]
|[[File:T7emColi T7autoBS trans 125.jpg|450px|thumb|center|Coli T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop after 125min at 37°C  (trans image)]]
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|[[File:T7emColi T7autoBS fluo 125.jpg|450px|thumb|center|Coli T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop after 125min at 37°C  (rfp image)]]
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|[[File:T7emColi T7autoBS fluo 125.jpg|450px|thumb|center|Coli T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop after 125min at 37°C  (gfp image)]]
|}
|}
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<h2>Emitter & receiver constructs in <i>B.subtilis</i> (receiver in plasmid)</h2>
<h2>Emitter & receiver constructs in <i>B.subtilis</i> (receiver in plasmid)</h2>
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As a first trial we cloned our system into the PHM3 plasmid. This experimentation represents  the first Subtillis to Subtillis signal diffusion we clearly designed.
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</html>
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{| border="1" class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
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|+B.Subtillis T7 emitter + B.subtillis  T7 Autoloop plasmidic clones in exponantial phase at 37°C
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|-
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|[[File:22810_T7_autoloopinpHM3_w1TRANS_s5_t1.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop  at 37°C  (trans image)]]
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|[[File:2810_T7_autoloopinpHM3_w3mRFP1_s5_t1.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop  at 37°C  (rfp image)]]
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|[[File:2810_T7_autoloopinpHM3_w2GFP_s5_t1.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop  at 37°C  (gfp image)]]
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|-
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|[[File:2810_T7_autoloopinpHM3_w1TRANS_s5_t27.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C  (trans image)]]
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|[[File:2810_T7_autoloopinpHM3_w3mRFP1_s5_t27.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C  (rfp image)]]
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|[[File:2810_T7_autoloopinpHM3_w2GFP_s5_t27.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C  (gfp image)]]
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|}
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<html>
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<p>Here also, we can see no obvious increase of fluorescence over time.</p>
<h2>Emitter & receiver constructs in <i>B.subtilis</i> (receiver in genome)</h2>
<h2>Emitter & receiver constructs in <i>B.subtilis</i> (receiver in genome)</h2>
<p>We used our <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiments/Microscopy">microscopy protocol</a> to do this experiment. The emitter strain is a <i>B.subtilis</i> PY9 strain where our emitter construct is integrated in the genome. The receiver strain is a <i>B.subtilis</i> PY9 strain where our T7 autoloop (receiver) construct is integrated in the genome.</p>
<p>We used our <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiments/Microscopy">microscopy protocol</a> to do this experiment. The emitter strain is a <i>B.subtilis</i> PY9 strain where our emitter construct is integrated in the genome. The receiver strain is a <i>B.subtilis</i> PY9 strain where our T7 autoloop (receiver) construct is integrated in the genome.</p>
<p> We followed our cultures on three microscopic slides: one for the emitter, one for the receiver and one for the mix.</p>
<p> We followed our cultures on three microscopic slides: one for the emitter, one for the receiver and one for the mix.</p>
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</html>
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{| border="1" class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
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|+B.Subtillis T7 emitter + B.subtillis Chromosomal T7 Autoloop in exponantial phase at 37°C
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|-
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|[[File:2810_T7_chromosomiconly_w1TRANS_s1_t1.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop  at 37°C  (trans image)]]
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|[[File:2810_T7_chromosomiconly_w3mRFP1_s1_t1.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop  at 37°C  (rfp image)]]
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|[[File:2810_T7_chromosomiconly_w2GFP_s1_t1.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop  at 37°C  (gfp image)]]
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|-
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|[[File:2810_T7_chromosomiconly_w1TRANS_s1_t37.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C  (trans image)]]
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|[[File:2810_T7_chromosomiconly_w3mRFP1_s1_t37.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C  (rfp image)]]
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|[[File:2810_T7_chromosomiconly_w2GFP_s1_t37.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis  T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C  (gfp image)]]
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|}
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<html>
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<p>Again, we can see no increase of fluorescence in our mix over time.</p>
<h2>Using the microfluidic chip (<i>B.subtilis/B.subtilis</i>)</h2>
<h2>Using the microfluidic chip (<i>B.subtilis/B.subtilis</i>)</h2>
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<table>
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<tr>
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<td>
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<a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiment/T7_diff_subt_subt_microfluidic"><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/d/da/Microscopy.png" width=150px></a>
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</td>
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<td>
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<p>Our microfluidic experiment gave <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiment/T7_diff_subt_subt_microfluidic">some indirect evidence</a> of nanotube-assisted diffusion of T7 RNA polymerase. We used for this experiment two <i>B.subtilis</i> strains (one emitter, one receiver, both integrated in the genome). Our chromosomal T7 autoloop was brightly activated during this experiment, but only in densely packed mix of emitter and receiver cells. Since it is a complicated experiment, it deserves its own specific page. Find more about this experiment <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiment/T7_diff_subt_subt_microfluidic">here</a>.</p>
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</td>
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</tr>
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</table>
<h2>Concentrating the cells more for microscopy (<i>B.subtilis/B.subtilis</i>)</h2>
<h2>Concentrating the cells more for microscopy (<i>B.subtilis/B.subtilis</i>)</h2>
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<p> We followed our cultures on three microscopic slides: one for the emitter, one for the receiver and one for the mix. The main difference here is we had the previous results from the microfluidic chip. We know that the chromosomal T7 autoloop can be activated in special conditions. We tried to put the cells in a highly dense pack where such events could happen more often.</p>
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</html>
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{| border="1" class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
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|+B.Subtillis T7 emitter + B.subtillis Chromosomal T7 Autoloop highly concentrated in exponantial phase at 37°C
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|-
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|[[File:28_10_T7_Subti_high_conc_chromo_w1TRANS_s1_t1.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis highly concentrated  T7 autoloop  at 37°C  (trans image)]]
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|[[File:28_10_T7_Subti_high_conc_chromo_w3mRFP1_s1_t1.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis highly concentrated  T7 autoloop  at 37°C  (rfp image)]]
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|[[File:28_10_T7_Subti_high_conc_chromo_w2GFP_s1_t1.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis highly concentrated  T7 autoloop  at 37°C  (gfp image)]]
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|-
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|[[File:28_10_T7_Subti_high_conc_chromo_w1TRANS_s1_t31.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis highly concentrated  T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C  (trans image)]]
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|[[File:28_10_T7_Subti_high_conc_chromo_w3mRFP1_s1_t31.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis highly concentrated  T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C  (rfp image)]]
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|[[File:28_10_T7_Subti_high_conc_chromo_w2GFP_s1_t31.jpg|290px|thumb|center|B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis highly concentrated  T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C  (gfp image)]]
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|}
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<html>
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<p>Once again, no increase of fluorescence was observed.</p>
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<h2>FACS experiments</h2>
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 +
Protocol:
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Cells in exponential phase are concentrated on a filter to favour nanotubes formation. The filters are incubated on LB plates for different times (here from 0 to 90 min) and then put in MgSO4 10-2M H20 to solubilize cells. Cells are subsequently diluted in PBS for the FACS.
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<center>
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<table>
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<tr>
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<td>
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<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/c/c9/Receiver_T0.png" style="width:150px"/></td>
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<td><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/b/b2/Emitter_T0.png"  style="width:150px"/></td>
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<td><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/f/fa/ER_1%2C1_T0.png"  style="width:150px"/></td>
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<td><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/d/db/Emitter-receiver_1%2C5.png"  style="width:150px"/></td>
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<td><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/8/83/ER_5%2C1_T0.png"  style="width:150px"/></td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td>
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Receiver cells after 0 min incubation
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</td>
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<td>
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Emitter cells after 0 min incubation
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</td>
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<td>
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Emitter-Receiver (1:1 ratio) mix cells after 0 min incubation
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</td>
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<td>
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Emitter-Receiver (1:5 ratio) mix cells after 0 min incubation
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</td>
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<td>
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Emitter-Receiver (5:1 ratio) mix cells after 0 min incubation
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</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/8/82/Receiver_T40.png"  style="width:150px"/>
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</td>
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<td><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/3/35/Emittor_T40.png"  style="width:150px"/>
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</td>
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<td><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/0/0d/ER_1%2C1_T40.png"  style="width:150px"/>
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</td>
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<td><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/c/ce/ER_1%2C5_T40.png"  style="width:150px"/>
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</td>
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<td><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/f/fb/ER_5%2C1_T40.png"  style="width:150px"/>
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</td>
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</tr>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td>
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Receiver cells after 40 min incubation
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</td>
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<td>
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Emitter cells after 0 min incubation
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</td>
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<td>
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Emitter-Receiver (1:1 ratio) mix cells after 40 min incubation
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</td>
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<td>
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Emitter-Receiver (1:5 ratio) mix cells after 40 min incubation
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</td>
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<td>
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Emitter-Receiver (5:1 ratio) mix cells after 40 min incubation
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</td>
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</tr>
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<td><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/5/55/Receiver_T90.png"  style="width:150px"/>
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</td>
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<td><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/d/d8/Emitter_T90.png"  style="width:150px"/>
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</td>
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<td><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/1/1d/ER_T90_1%2C1.png"  style="width:150px"/>
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</td>
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<td><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/8/8f/ER_T90_1%2C5.png"  style="width:150px"/>
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</td>
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<td><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2011/1/17/ER_T90_5%2C1.png"  style="width:150px"/>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td>
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Receiver cells after 40 min incubation
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</td>
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<td>
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Emitter cells after 40 min incubation
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</td>
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<td>
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Emitter-Receiver (1:1 ratio) mix cells after 90 min incubation
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</td>
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<td>
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Emitter-Receiver (1:5 ratio) mix cells after 90 min incubation
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</td>
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<td>
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Emitter-Receiver (5:1 ratio) mix cells after 90 min incubation
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</td>
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</tr>
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</table>
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</center>
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From the first FACS experiments we did, it appears that there is no appearance of GFP positive cells meaning that there is no diffusion of  T7 polymerase from the emitter cell to the receiver cell in these conditions. We are currently repeating the experiment as well as testing other conditions.
<h2>Conclusions</h2>
<h2>Conclusions</h2>
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<p>During all of our experiments with the T7 polymerase diffusion we did not see any fluorescence increase (in the case of the plasmidic autoloop) nor fluorescence appearance (in the case of the chromosomic autoloop).
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<p>During all of our experiments with the T7 polymerase diffusion we did not see any fluorescence increase (in the case of the plasmidic autoloop) nor fluorescence appearance (in the case of the chromosomal autoloop).
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We put our cells in the same conditions that we used in the <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/GFP_diff">successful GFP diffusion experiments</a> as well as some new ones. All these repeted testing  
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We put our cells in the same conditions that we used in the <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/GFP_diff">successful GFP diffusion experiments</a> as well as some new ones. All these repeated testing  
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gives us the only possible conclusion here: the <em>T7 RNA polymerase diffusion design show no evidence of nanotube existence so far</em>. We are currently continuing our experiments to give additional evidence to this
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with <em>T7 RNA polymerase diffusion design shows no evidence of nanotube existence so far</em>. We are currently continuing our experiments to further explore the system.</p>
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result.</p>
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<h4>Limits</h4>
<h4>Limits</h4>
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<p>Our plasmidic autoloop is very leaky and it is quite hard to see obvious increase in fluorescence. With even finer tuning of our experimental conditions, we might be able to see better a possible hint of nanotube
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<p>Our plasmidic autoloop is very leaky and it is quite hard to see obvious increase in fluorescence. With even finer tuning of our experimental conditions, we might be able to see better a possible hint of nanotube presence.</p>
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presence.</p>
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<p>Our chromosomal autoloop has not been fully tested yet. We are currently trying to put it in the same cell that the T7 RNA polymerase gene to activate it all the time. The total absence of leakage under the microscope seemed quite suspect at first but we saw that it could be activated in the <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiment/T7_diff_subt_subt_microfluidic">microfluidic experiment</a>. Further investigation on this matter is under way. We are very excited about this construct because it might allow us to have a high signal-to-noise ratio.</p>
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<p>Our chromosomic autoloop has not been fully tested yet. We are currently trying to put it in the same cell that the T7 RNA polymerase gene to activate it all the time. The total absence of leakage under the microscope seemed quite suspect
+
<p>We also need to properly test the T7 RNA polymerase we put in <i>B.subtilis</i>, for instance by putting a plasmidic pT7-GFP construct. However, since it is the same gene as in our pHM3 T7 autoloop, we already have indirect proof of its functionality.</p>
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at first but we saw that it could be activated in the <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiment/T7_diff_subt_subt_microfluidic">microfluidic experiment</a>. Further investigation on this matter is under way.</p>
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<p>We also need to properly test the T7 RNA polymerase we put in subtilis, for instance by putting a plasmidic pT7-GFP construct. However, since it is the same gene as in our pHM3 T7 autoloop, we already have indirect proof of its functionality.</p>
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-
<h2>Diffusion experiments</h2>
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-
<h3>Results negative at first</h3>
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-
<p>This design was successfully implemented both in <i>E.coli</i> and <i>B.subtilis</i>. We were therefore able to <em>test the diffusion of the T7 RNA polymerase through nanotubes</em>. We ran several experiments:
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-
<ol>
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-
<li>Diffusion from <i>E.coli</i> to <i>B.subtilis</i> with our receptor construct on a plasmid. Find more about it <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiment/T7_diff_coli_subt">here</a></li>
+
-
<li>Diffusion from <i>B.subtilis</i> to <i>B.subtilis</i> with our receptor construct on a plasmid. Find more about it <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiment/T7_diff_subt_subt_pHM3">here</a>.</li>
+
-
<li>Diffusion from <i>B.subtilis</i> to <i>B.subtilis</i> with our receptor construct integrated in the genome. Find more about it <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiment/T7_diff_subt_subt_genomic">here</a>.</li>
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-
</ol>
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-
<p>The first three experiments gave us negative results. We saw no obvious increase of the GFP expression in receiver cells when our construct was on a plasmid and absolutely no GFP fluorescence when it was integrated in the genome.</p>
+
-
<h3>Unexepected breakthrough</h3>
+
-
<p>However, our microfluidic experiment gave <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiment/T7_diff_subt_subt_microfluidic">unexepected and encouraging results</a>. We used for this experiment two <i>B.subtilis</i> strains (one emitter, one receiver, both integrated in the genome). Our chromosomic T7 autoloop was brightly activated during this experiment, but only in densely packed mix of emitter and receiver cells. Find more about this experiment <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiment/T7_diff_subt_subt_microfluidic">here</a>.</p>
+
-
<p>Seeing that <em>cell concentration seemed to be the key factor</em> and taking advantage of our perfectly not leaky chromosomic autoloop we conducted a final set of experiments where we concentrated our cells even more. We invite you to <em>see our final results</em> <a href="https://2011.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Experiment/T7_diff_subt_subt_concentrated">here</a>.</p>
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Latest revision as of 03:58, 29 October 2011

Team IGEM Paris 2011

Testing nanotubes with T7 RNA polymerase diffusion

Summary

All our experiments followed our microscopy protocol when not specified otherwise.

Results for the YFP concentrator:

  • We've done E.coli to B.subtilis (T7 autoloop in a plasmid) diffusion experiments (with negative results)
  • We've done B.subtilis to B.subtilis (T7 autoloop in a plasmid and in the genome) diffusion experiments (with negative results)
  • We've done B.subtilis to B.subtilis (chromosomal T7 autoloop) diffusion experiments in our microfluidic chip observed indirect evidence of nanotube-assisted diffusion

Design overview

Schematic summary of the T7 diffusion device

All of the parts of the above design have been BioBricked, characterized both in E.coli and B.subtilis, and sent to the registry.

More details on the design are available here.

Emitter construct in E.coli - Receiver construct in B.subtilis (plasmid)

As a control for Coli to Subtillis diffusion we wanted to use E.Coli as an T7 RNA Polymerase emitter and B.Subtillis as theT7 autoloop reciever. Here we can see pictures taken using our classic microscopy protocol.

E.Coli T7 emitter + B.subtilis T7 Autoloop in exponantial phase at 37°C
Coli T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop at 37°C (trans image)
Coli T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop at 37°C (gfp image)
Coli T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop after 125min at 37°C (trans image)
Coli T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop after 125min at 37°C (gfp image)

As the pictures show, there is no new highly glowing cell after 125 minutes experimentation.

Emitter & receiver constructs in B.subtilis (receiver in plasmid)

As a first trial we cloned our system into the PHM3 plasmid. This experimentation represents the first Subtillis to Subtillis signal diffusion we clearly designed.

B.Subtillis T7 emitter + B.subtillis T7 Autoloop plasmidic clones in exponantial phase at 37°C
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop at 37°C (trans image)
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop at 37°C (rfp image)
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop at 37°C (gfp image)
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C (trans image)
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C (rfp image)
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C (gfp image)

Here also, we can see no obvious increase of fluorescence over time.

Emitter & receiver constructs in B.subtilis (receiver in genome)

We used our microscopy protocol to do this experiment. The emitter strain is a B.subtilis PY9 strain where our emitter construct is integrated in the genome. The receiver strain is a B.subtilis PY9 strain where our T7 autoloop (receiver) construct is integrated in the genome.

We followed our cultures on three microscopic slides: one for the emitter, one for the receiver and one for the mix.

B.Subtillis T7 emitter + B.subtillis Chromosomal T7 Autoloop in exponantial phase at 37°C
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop at 37°C (trans image)
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop at 37°C (rfp image)
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop at 37°C (gfp image)
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C (trans image)
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C (rfp image)
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C (gfp image)

Again, we can see no increase of fluorescence in our mix over time.

Using the microfluidic chip (B.subtilis/B.subtilis)

Our microfluidic experiment gave some indirect evidence of nanotube-assisted diffusion of T7 RNA polymerase. We used for this experiment two B.subtilis strains (one emitter, one receiver, both integrated in the genome). Our chromosomal T7 autoloop was brightly activated during this experiment, but only in densely packed mix of emitter and receiver cells. Since it is a complicated experiment, it deserves its own specific page. Find more about this experiment here.

Concentrating the cells more for microscopy (B.subtilis/B.subtilis)

We followed our cultures on three microscopic slides: one for the emitter, one for the receiver and one for the mix. The main difference here is we had the previous results from the microfluidic chip. We know that the chromosomal T7 autoloop can be activated in special conditions. We tried to put the cells in a highly dense pack where such events could happen more often.

B.Subtillis T7 emitter + B.subtillis Chromosomal T7 Autoloop highly concentrated in exponantial phase at 37°C
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis highly concentrated T7 autoloop at 37°C (trans image)
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis highly concentrated T7 autoloop at 37°C (rfp image)
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis highly concentrated T7 autoloop at 37°C (gfp image)
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis highly concentrated T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C (trans image)
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis highly concentrated T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C (rfp image)
B.Subtillis T7 emiter/ B.Subtillis highly concentrated T7 autoloop after 185min at 37°C (gfp image)

Once again, no increase of fluorescence was observed.

FACS experiments

Protocol: Cells in exponential phase are concentrated on a filter to favour nanotubes formation. The filters are incubated on LB plates for different times (here from 0 to 90 min) and then put in MgSO4 10-2M H20 to solubilize cells. Cells are subsequently diluted in PBS for the FACS.
Receiver cells after 0 min incubation Emitter cells after 0 min incubation Emitter-Receiver (1:1 ratio) mix cells after 0 min incubation Emitter-Receiver (1:5 ratio) mix cells after 0 min incubation Emitter-Receiver (5:1 ratio) mix cells after 0 min incubation
Receiver cells after 40 min incubation Emitter cells after 0 min incubation Emitter-Receiver (1:1 ratio) mix cells after 40 min incubation Emitter-Receiver (1:5 ratio) mix cells after 40 min incubation Emitter-Receiver (5:1 ratio) mix cells after 40 min incubation
Receiver cells after 40 min incubation Emitter cells after 40 min incubation Emitter-Receiver (1:1 ratio) mix cells after 90 min incubation Emitter-Receiver (1:5 ratio) mix cells after 90 min incubation Emitter-Receiver (5:1 ratio) mix cells after 90 min incubation
From the first FACS experiments we did, it appears that there is no appearance of GFP positive cells meaning that there is no diffusion of T7 polymerase from the emitter cell to the receiver cell in these conditions. We are currently repeating the experiment as well as testing other conditions.

Conclusions

During all of our experiments with the T7 polymerase diffusion we did not see any fluorescence increase (in the case of the plasmidic autoloop) nor fluorescence appearance (in the case of the chromosomal autoloop). We put our cells in the same conditions that we used in the successful GFP diffusion experiments as well as some new ones. All these repeated testing with T7 RNA polymerase diffusion design shows no evidence of nanotube existence so far. We are currently continuing our experiments to further explore the system.

Limits

Our plasmidic autoloop is very leaky and it is quite hard to see obvious increase in fluorescence. With even finer tuning of our experimental conditions, we might be able to see better a possible hint of nanotube presence.

Our chromosomal autoloop has not been fully tested yet. We are currently trying to put it in the same cell that the T7 RNA polymerase gene to activate it all the time. The total absence of leakage under the microscope seemed quite suspect at first but we saw that it could be activated in the microfluidic experiment. Further investigation on this matter is under way. We are very excited about this construct because it might allow us to have a high signal-to-noise ratio.

We also need to properly test the T7 RNA polymerase we put in B.subtilis, for instance by putting a plasmidic pT7-GFP construct. However, since it is the same gene as in our pHM3 T7 autoloop, we already have indirect proof of its functionality.