Team:Kyoto/Hunger

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m (Mechanism of Regulation of Transcription Depending on the Concentration of Glutamine)
 
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= '''Project Hunger''' =
= '''Project Hunger''' =
-
Production of useless enzymes is a heavy burden especially when resources are scarce. This can be reduced by using nitrogen regulatory proteins, NtrB and NtrC<sup>&dagger;</sup> which activate the &sigma;<sup>54</sup>promoter when the supply of nitrogen is insufficient. NtrB and NtrC are coded in glnL and glnG, respectively. However, the &sigma;-54 promoter has never been evaluated quantitatively.
+
Carnivorous E.coli attracts insects by emitting light, but it is a burden for the E.coli.
 +
To reduce this burden, we use nitrogen regulatory proteins, NtrB and NtrC. They activate σ54 promoter when the supply of nitrogen is not enough. NtrB and NtrC are coded in glnL and glnG, respectively.
-
We characterize the &sigma;<sup>54</sup>promoter by Relative Promoter Unit (RPU), because absolute promoter activity depends on test conditions and measuring instruments. RPU can reduce this Coefficient of Variation (CV) from 39.1% to 17.5% [2]. Therefore RPU can make it easier for us to share the data of promoter activity and use BioBricks.  
+
&dagger; NtrB and NtrC are otherwise called NR<sub>II</sub>, NR<sub>I</sub>
 +
== '''Introduction''' ==
 +
===Mechanism of Regulation of Transcription Depending on the Concentration of Glutamine===
 +
Ammonia is an essential nitrogen source for the bactria. When enteric bacteria are deprived of ammonia, they express glnA to produce glutamine synthetase(GS) under the &sigma;<sup>54</sup>promoter. The transcription from &sigma;<sup>54</sup>promoter is stimilated by phosphorylated form of NtrC(NtrC-P). The &sigma;<sup>54</sup> RNA polymerase binds to the glnA promoter, forming a closed complex, but cannot form an open complex and initiate transcription until it is activated by NtrC-P. NtrC is phosphorylated by NtrB-P, an autokinase which phosphorylates itself with ATPs. Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of NtrB and C are controlled so that a cell has sufficient NtrC-P when the concentration of ammoniacal source is low.
 +
 
 +
[[Image:Igemkyotopatrs.PNG|300px|thumb|left|Regulation of &sigma;<sup>54</sup>promoter|Fig.1 Regulation of &sigma;<sup>54</sup>promoter]]
 +
[[Image:Igemkyotontr.PNG|400x90px|thumb|Cycles of NtrB and NtrC|Fig.2 Cycles of NtrB and NtrC]]
 +
{{clear}}
 +
 
 +
The concentration of ammoniacal source is detected by the ratio of &alpha;-ketoglutarate to glutamine. If glutamine levels are low, less  &alpha;-ketoglutarate is synthesized by GS and, as a result, Pii retains UMP and so cannot bind to NtrB. NtrB can then phosphorylate itself and transfer this phosphate to NtrC.
 +
 
 +
[[Image:igemkyoto_pii_gs.png|400px|thumb|left|Fig.3 Detection of Ammoniacal Source]]
 +
{{clear}}
 +
<b>[GS Reaction Under Low NH<sub>3</sub> Concentration]</b>
 +
Glutamate + NH<sub>3</sub> + ADP  &rarr;  Glutamine + ADP + phosphate
 +
                      GS
 +
Glutamine + &alpha;ketoglutarate  &rarr;  2 glutamate
 +
                            GS
 +
In our project, we decided to use NtrB and NtrC to control the expression level of genes for the following reasons:
 +
*They were not submitted to the partsregistry.
 +
*Many researches have been done on NtrB and NtrC, while there are not as many reports on Pii and GS.
 +
*The cell signalling mechanism can be made simple.
 +
*&sigma;<sup>54</sup>promoter was not quantitatively characterized.
 +
 
 +
We characterized the &sigma;<sup>54</sup>promoter by Relative Promoter Unit (RPU), because absolute promoter activity depends on test conditions and measuring instruments. RPU can reduce this Coefficient of Variation (CV) from 39.1% to 17.5% [2]. Therefore RPU can make it easier for us to share the data of promoter activity and use BioBricks.  
-
We have used GFP fluorescence to measure RPU previously, but this time, we tried to calculate RPU using another way for the following reasons:
+
We have used GFP fluorescence to measure RPU previously, but this time, we tried to calculate RPU using another way for the reasons below:
-
*We know that it is a lot of trouble to calculate RPU using GFP fluorescence.
+
*We know that it is a lot of trouble to calculate RPU using GFP fluorescence without platereader.
-
*We imagined that the concentration of the glutamine changes because the &sigma;-54 promoter relates to the metabolism of glutamine.
+
*As the &sigma;<sup>54</sup>promoter relates to the metabolism of glutamine, the change in the concentration of glutamine results into the change of activity of &sigma;<sup>54</sup>promoter.
-
This is because when we calculate RPU using GFP, we need to measure the concentration of glutamine at two points in an exponential growth phase, but we have the following problems.
+
When we calculate RPU using GFP fluorescence, we need to measure GFP fluorescence at two points in an exponential growth phase and on the same glutamine concentration, but we have the following problems.
-
*before an exponential growth phase, the concentration of glutamine changed.
+
*before E.coli reach exponential growth phase, the concentration of glutamine changes
*the concentration of glutamine is different between one point and the other point.
*the concentration of glutamine is different between one point and the other point.
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[[File:Kyoto_kiga_eqn2.png]]
[[File:Kyoto_kiga_eqn2.png]]
 +
We can characterize promoters with RPU easily by using this new way.
 +
== '''Method''' ==
 +
We created the following two constructions to characterize &sigma;<sup>54</sup> promoter with RPU depending on the concentration of glutamine. One construction includes BBa_J23101 as a promoter which is used as the standard and the other includes binding sites and &sigma;<sup>54</sup> promoter.
-
&dagger; NtrB and NtrC are otherwise called NR<sub>II</sub>, NR<sub>I</sub>
+
[[File:Parts_hunger.PNG]]
 +
=='''Result'''==
 +
===New equation for measurement RPU===
 +
We get this new equation for measuring RPU.(in steady state)
 +
[[File:Kyoto_kiga_eqn2.png|center]]
 +
(To see the derivation, see [[Team:Kyoto/Hunger/Modeling]].)
-
ところでこの遺伝子はもともとBioBrickに登録されていたものか、今回新たに作ったもののどちらなのでしょう
 
-
<br>http://partsregistry.org/wiki/index.php/Part:BBa_J64978
 
-
<br>などがもう登録されているようですが
 
-
<br>リンク先を見ましたがどうなんでしょうね とりあえずこの登録されているパーツのシーケンスは見ましたが今回我々が作ろうとしたglnLとは全然違うシーケンスでした 名に由来かは知りませんがE.coliのものじゃないでしょうねby Hashiya
 
-
== '''Introduction''' ==
 
-
For every living thing, needless biological activity is not efficient. Cells must be controlled so that enzymes are produced only when they are necessary. Ammonia is an essential nitrogen source for the bactria. When enteric bacteria are deprived of ammonia, they express glnA to produce glutamine synthetase(GS) under the &sigma<sup>54</sup>promoter. The transcription from &sigma<sup>54</sup>promoter is stimilated by phosphorylated form of NtrC(NtrC-P). The &sigma<sup>54</sup> RNA polymerase binds to the glnA promoter, forming a closed complex, but cannot form an open complex and initiate transcription until it is activated by NtrC-P. NtrC is phosphorylated by NtrB-P, an autokinase which phosphorylates itself with ATPs.
 
-
[[Image:I_GEM_Kyoto_Ntr.PNG|640x140px|thumb|left|Cycles of NtrB and NtrC|Fig.1 Cycles of NtrB and NtrC]]
+
===How long E.coli can keep steady state after transferred to medium lack of nutrition===
-
{{clear}}
+
To measure RPU by our new method, we need to know how long E.coli can keep steady state after transferred to medium lack of nutrition.
 +
We think that cell population and gene expression keep in steady state.
 +
So we measured OD600 and expression of stationary phase specific gene, csiE and bolA.
-
Nitrogen is used in the reaction of
 
-
Glutamate + NH<sub>3</sub> + ADP  &rarr;  Glutamine + ADP + phosphate
+
In order to measure the RPU of &sigma;<sup>54</sup>promoter depending on glutamine concentration, the cellular density of mRNA must be measured when it is constant(this means that the concentration of glutamine is kept invariable). So, ''E.coli'' must be in the steady state. However, ''E.coli'' consumes glutamine and it is impossible to add glutamine at the first point of cultivation. Cultivation without any glutamine is necessary. Also, From our last year's experience, we knew that ''E.coli'' grew really inefficiently in M9 medium without glutamine, which is often suplied from the casamino acids. Thus, first we cultivated ''E.coli'' with casamino acids overnight, then exchanged the medium with that is free of casamino acids.
-
                        GS
+
-
The expression of glnA is regulated by several proteins including NtrB, NtrC, Pii.
+
-
Fig. NtrCがσ54,RNAポリメラーゼ,DNAの関係図(窒素源あり/なし)
+
-
Fig. NtrBCの関係図
+
-
Fig. Ntr, Pii, GSの関係図
+
-
== '''Method''' ==
+
As a preliminary experiment of measurement of the RPU of &sigma;<sup>54</sup>promoter, we performed an experiment to determine how long it takes to reach a steady state.  
-
We created the following two constructions to measure gene expression depending on the concentration of glutamine. One construction includes BBa_J23101 as a promoter which is used as the standard and the other includes binding sites and &sigma;-54 promoter.
+
-
[[File:Parts_hunger.PNG]]
+
<center>
 +
[[File:A.PNG|300px]]
-
We also measured the amount of mRNA to calculate RPU of the steady state for each concentration of glutamine. First, we made the following preliminary experiment to measure the length of times before steady state.
+
[[File:B.PNG|250px]]
 +
[[File:C.PNG|200px]]
 +
</center>
-
We cultivated E.coli in M9 media(+ casamino acids) for about 15 hours and dispenced 2.4ml to each tube. Then, we centrifuged these tubes (13,000 rpm , 4&deg;C, 1min) and discarded the supernatant. We added 1.2ml media(- casamino acids) and centrifuged at 4&deg;C twice. Again, we centrifuged these tubes and discarded the supernatant and added 1.2ml media(-casamino acids) at 37 &deg;C. We brought up E.coli at 0,5,10,15,20,25,30,60min and extracted RNA and synthesized cDNA. Finally, we used real time PCR.
+
We cultivated E.coli in M9 media(+ casamino acids) for about 15 hours and dispenced 2.4ml to each tubes. Then, we centrifuged these tubes (13,000 rpm , 4°C, 1min) and discarded the supernatant. We added 2.4ml media(- casamino acids) and centrifuged at 4°C twice. Again, we centrifuged these tubes and discarded the supernatant and added 2.4ml media(-casamino acids) at 37 °C. We brought up E.coli at 0,5,10,15,20,25,30,60min and mesured OD600 and extracted RNA and synthesized cDNA. Finally, we used real time PCR.
-
[[File:A.PNG]]<br>
+
-
[[File:B.PNG]]<br>
+
-
[[File:C.PNG]]<br>
+
-
RPU is defined as follows.
+
Following table is the result of OD600 in the preliminary experiment.
-
<html><style type="text/css">
+
-
.eqn {
+
-
float: left;
+
-
width: 90%;
+
-
}
+
-
.no {
+
-
float: left;
+
-
width: 10%;
+
-
}
+
-
</style></html>
+
-
<div style="float:left; width:100%;"><span class="eqn">[[File:Kyoto_kiga_eqn1.png|center]]</span><span class="no">(1)</span></div>
+
{| border="1"
 +
|
 +
|over night culture
 +
|0min
 +
|5min
 +
|10min
 +
|15min
 +
|20min
 +
|25min
 +
|30min
 +
|60min
 +
|-
 +
|OD600
 +
|align="right" | 1.643
 +
|align="right" | 1.600
 +
|align="right" | 1.605
 +
|align="right" | 1.594
 +
|align="right" | 1.563
 +
|align="right" | 1.550
 +
|align="right" | 1.587
 +
|align="right" | 1.595
 +
|align="right" | 1.653
 +
|}
-
This time, we decided to use equation(2).
+
To use real time PCR, we need to choose internal control to correct data.
 +
We use GAPDH, TBP, PGK, and actin as candidate of internal control and research which gene is suitable to internal control.
 +
Following graphs are the results of real time PCR in the preliminary experiment.
-
<div style="float:left; width:100%;"><span class="eqn">[[File:Kyoto_kiga_eqn2.png|center]]</span><span class="no">(2)</span></div>
+
[[file:kyoto_kiga_graph1.png|thumb|400px|Fig.1 :graph1. the relative RNA expression level]]
-
PoPS (Polymerase Per Second) is the unit of absolute “promoter activity”. It is defined as the number of RNA polymerase molecules that pass by the final base pair of the promoter and continue along DNA as an elongation complex. PoPSSS is PoPS at the steady state of following system.
+
This table is the relative RNA expression level used in graph1.
-
<div style="float:left; width:100%;"><span class="eqn">[[File:Kyoto_kiga_eqn3.png|center]]</span><span class="no">(3)</span></div>
+
{| border="1"
-
Where:
+
|
-
*[mRNA] is the concentration of mRNA,
+
|0min
-
*&gamma; is the mRNA degradation rate,
+
|5min
-
*n is the copy number of the plasmid containing the promoter
+
|10min
 +
|15min
 +
|20min
 +
|25min
 +
|30min
 +
|60min
 +
|-
 +
|GAPDH
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 1.15796
 +
|align="right" | 1.477987
 +
|align="right" | 0.669569
 +
|align="right" | 0.216789
 +
|align="right" | 0.123519
 +
|align="right" | 0.158918
 +
|align="right" | 0.090074
 +
|-
 +
|TBP
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 1.586912
 +
|align="right" | 3.103184
 +
|align="right" | 36.00222
 +
|align="right" | 16.53465
 +
|align="right" | 16.81689
 +
|align="right" | 26.70678
 +
|align="right" | 14.0751
 +
|-
 +
|PGK
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 2.764137
 +
|align="right" | 2.807991
 +
|align="right" | 1.45171
 +
|align="right" | 0.473917
 +
|align="right" | 0.235602
 +
|align="right" | 0.689141
 +
|align="right" | 0.309861
 +
|-
 +
|actin
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 1.31823
 +
|align="right" | 1.743549
 +
|align="right" | 0.626175
 +
|align="right" | 0.316547
 +
|align="right" | 0.152318
 +
|align="right" | 0.191665
 +
|align="right" | 0.125879
 +
|}
-
Following equations related to promoterφ and J23101 are derived because d[mRNA]/dt = 0.
+
[[file:kyoto_kiga_graph2.png|thumb|400px|Fig.2 :graph2. the relative RNA expression level except TBP]]
-
<div style="float:left; width:100%;"><span class="eqn">[[File:Kyoto_kiga_eqn4.png|center]]</span><span class="no">(4)</span></div>
+
-
<div style="float:left; width:100%;"><span class="eqn">[[File:Kyoto_kiga_eqn5.png|center]]</span><span class="no">(5)</span></div>
+
This table is the relative RNA expression level except TBP used in graph2.
-
If the test promoter φ and the reference standard promoter are measured under the same culture conditions and both promoters are carried on the same backbone plasmid, following equations are approved.
+
{| border="1"
 +
|
 +
|0min
 +
|5min
 +
|10min
 +
|15min
 +
|20min
 +
|25min
 +
|30min
 +
|60min
 +
|-
 +
|GAPDH
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 1.15796
 +
|align="right" | 1.477987
 +
|align="right" | 0.669569
 +
|align="right" | 0.216789
 +
|align="right" | 0.123519
 +
|align="right" | 0.158918
 +
|align="right" | 0.090074
 +
|-
 +
|PGK
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 2.764137
 +
|align="right" | 2.807991
 +
|align="right" | 1.45171
 +
|align="right" | 0.473917
 +
|align="right" | 0.235602
 +
|align="right" | 0.689141
 +
|align="right" | 0.309861
 +
|-
 +
|actin
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 1.31823
 +
|align="right" | 1.743549
 +
|align="right" | 0.626175
 +
|align="right" | 0.316547
 +
|align="right" | 0.152318
 +
|align="right" | 0.191665
 +
|align="right" | 0.125879
 +
|}
-
<div style="float:left; width:100%;"><span class="eqn">[[File:Kyoto_kiga_eqn6.png|center]]</span><span class="no">(6)</span></div>
 
-
<div style="float:left; width:100%;"><span class="eqn">[[File:Kyoto_kiga_eqn7.png|center]]</span><span class="no">(7)</span></div>
+
[[file:kyoto_kiga_graph3.png|thumb|400px|Fig.3 :graph3. the relative RNA expression level corrected by PGK]]
-
Equation(4) divided by (5) is (8) and we can reduce (8) because of (6) and (7).
+
This table is the relative RNA expression level corrected by PGK used in graph3.
-
 
+
-
<div style="float:left; width:100%;"><span class="eqn">[[File:Kyoto_kiga_eqn8.png|center]]</span><span class="no">(8)</span></div>
+
-
The equation (2) is derived from the above.
+
{| border="1"
 +
|
 +
|0min
 +
|5min
 +
|10min
 +
|-
 +
|GAPDH
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 0.445449
 +
|align="right" | 0.588774
 +
|-
 +
|TBP
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 0.60403
 +
|align="right" | 1.191124
 +
|-
 +
|actin
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 0.520922
 +
|align="right" | 0.680571
 +
|}
 +
[[file:kyoto_kiga_graph4.png|thumb|400px|Fig.4 :graph4. the relative RNA expression level corrected by TBP]]
-
So, we can calculate RPU with this equation.
+
This table is the relative RNA expression level corrected by TBP used in graph4.
-
When we use this equation, we need the following data:
+
{| border="1"
 +
|
 +
|0min
 +
|5min
 +
|10min
 +
|-
 +
|GAPDH
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 0.733254
 +
|align="right" | 0.478325
 +
|-
 +
|PGK
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 1.702282
 +
|align="right" | 0.897464
 +
|-
 +
|actin
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 0.84523
 +
|align="right" | 0.562937
 +
|}
-
*the amount of mRNA which is corrected by internal control
+
[[file:kyoto_kiga_graph5.png|thumb|400px|Fig.5 :graph5. the relative RNA expression level corrected by GAPDH]]
-
*when an expression level reaches a steady state
+
-
This time we intend to assay a promoter activity against glutamine concentration,
+
This table is the relative RNA expression level corrected by GAPDH used in graph5.
-
it is desirable to induct after cultivation in the medium without glutamine.
+
-
However, from our experience last year, we know that in a M9 medium without casamino acids, E.coli will grow really inefficiently. So, firstly we cultivated E.coli in the medium with casamino acids overnight, then changed the medium with the one without casamino acids. After that, we performed an experiment to determine how long they take to reach a steady state.
+
-
== '''Result''' ==
+
{| border="1"
-
Gragh1
+
|
-
The data, which is not corrected by internal control
+
|0min
-
*Although the amount of RNA is different at first, we think that more than twice the difference is not an accidental error of the experiment.
+
|5min
-
*After 15 minutes, the expression level greatly changed, but from 0 to 10 min, the expression level reached a steady state.
+
|10min
-
*We think TBP and PGK are unsuitable for internal control.
+
|-
-
*The behaviors of GAPDH and actin is analogous.
+
|TBP
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 1.365421
 +
|align="right" | 2.127406
 +
|-
 +
|PGK
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 2.337666
 +
|align="right" | 1.973042
 +
|-
 +
|actin
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 1.149192
 +
|align="right" | 1.188311
 +
|}
 +
[[file:kyoto_kiga_graph6.png|thumb|400px|Fig.6 :graph6. the relative RNA expression level corrected by actin]]
-
Gragh2~5
+
This table is the relative RNA expression level corrected by actin used in graph6.
-
The data, which is corrected by internal control
+
 
-
*when we applied internal control to GAPDH, the changes of actin are little(×1.0~1.2)
+
{| border="1"
-
*when we applied internal control to actin, the changes of actin are little(×0.8~1.0)
+
|
-
*We concluded that GAPDH and actin are suitable for internal control.
+
|0min
 +
|5min
 +
|10min
 +
|-
 +
|GAPDH
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 0.877036
 +
|align="right" | 0.84605
 +
|-
 +
|TBP
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 1.20119
 +
|align="right" | 1.782596
 +
|-
 +
|PGK
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 2.086329
 +
|align="right" | 1.623779
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
From these result, we chose GAPDH and actin as internal control.
 +
Next, we measured csiE and bolA, stationary phase specific gene, expression level to confirm whether 0~10 minutes after transferred is steady state.
 +
 
 +
[[file:kyoto_kiga_graph7.png|thumb|400px|Fig.7 :graph7. the csiE, stationary phase specific gene, expression level corrected by GAPDH or actin]]
 +
 
 +
This table is the csiE, stationary phase specific gene, expression level corrected by GAPDH or actin used in graph7.
 +
 
 +
{| border="1"
 +
|csiE
 +
|0min
 +
|5min
 +
|10min
 +
|15min
 +
|-
 +
|corrected by GAPDH
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 1.225641019
 +
|align="right" | 0.783607523
 +
|align="right" | 5.373500165
 +
|-
 +
|corrected by actin
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 0.979871284
 +
|align="right" | 0.711422654
 +
|align="right" | 5.451538605
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
[[file:kyoto_kiga_graph8.png|thumb|400px|Fig.8 :graph8. the bolA, stationary phase specific gene, expression level corrected by GAPDH or actin]]
 +
 
 +
This table is the bolA, stationary phase specific gene, expression level corrected by GAPDH or actin used in graph8.
 +
 
 +
{| border="1"
 +
|bolA
 +
|0min
 +
|5min
 +
|10min
 +
|15min
 +
|-
 +
|corrected by GAPDH
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 0.938259866
 +
|align="right" | 0.516878973
 +
|align="right" | 3.324786006
 +
|-
 +
|corrected by actin
 +
|align="right" | 1
 +
|align="right" | 0.750116784
 +
|align="right" | 0.469264778
 +
|align="right" | 3.373071314
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
<div style="width: 100%; float: left;">
== '''Discussion''' ==
== '''Discussion''' ==
 +
Graph1 shows the relative RNA expression level(GAPDH,TBP,PGK,actin)  which is not corrected by internal control gene.
 +
Although the initial RNA expression level is not equal, it can be said that more than twice the difference is not an accidental error of the experiment.
 +
Since the expression level of TBP becomes 35 times higher than its initial amount in 15 minutes, we can say that TBP is not suitable for the internal control and that E.coli is not in the steady state after 15 minutes in this experiment.
 +
 +
Graph2 is the same data with the graph1 except TBP.
 +
Since the expression level of PGK changes a lot, PGK is not suitable for the internal control either. In 0-10 minutes the expression level of GAPDH and actin doesn’t change so much and behave similarly.
 +
 +
Graph3-6 show the data corrected by each internal control.
 +
When GAPDH is used as the internal control, the change of actin is little (x1.0~1.2)
 +
When actin is used as the internal control, the change of GAPDH is little (x0.8~1.0)
 +
According from these data, we assumed that GAPDH and actin is suitable for the internal control and that steady state is probably 0~10 minutes.
 +
 +
 +
Graph7,8 is the data of stationary phase specific genes corrected by GAPDH or actin as internal control. These graphes show that 10 minutes is not steady state but 0~5 minutes is steady state. So, we know the timing of steady state and can measure RPU with our new way.
 +
 +
</div>
 +
 +
<div style="float: left; width: 100%;">
 +
== '''Reference''' ==
== '''Reference''' ==
<font size=1.3>
<font size=1.3>
-
Jiang, P., & Ninfa, A. J. (2007). Escherichia coli PII signal transduction protein controlling nitrogen assimilation acts as a sensor of adenylate energy charge in vitro. Biochemistry, 46(45), 12979-96. doi:10.1021/bi701062t
+
[1] P. Jiang and A. J. Ninfa, “Escherichia coli PII signal transduction protein controlling nitrogen assimilation acts as a sensor of adenylate energy charge in vitro.,” Biochemistry, vol. 46, no. 45, pp. 12979-96, Nov. 2007.
-
Kelly, J. R., Rubin, A. J., Davis, J. H., Ajo-franklin, C. M., Cumbers, J., Czar, M. J., Mora, K. D., et al. (n.d.). reference standard. Bioinformatics. doi:10.1186/1754-1611-3-4
+
[2] J. R. Kelly et al., “Measuring the activity of BioBrick promoters using an in vivo reference standard.,” Journal of biological engineering, vol. 3, p. 4, Jan. 2009.
-
Al-Azri, M., Al-Azri, H., Al-Hashmi, F., Al-Rasbi, S., El-Shafie, K., & Al-Maniri, A. (2011, May). Factors Affecting the Quality of Diabetic Care in Primary Care Settings in Oman: A qualitative study on patients’ perspectives. Sultan Qaboos University medical journal. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21969892
+
[3] M. Al-Azri, H. Al-Azri, F. Al-Hashmi, S. Al-Rasbi, K. El-Shafie, and A. Al-Maniri, “Factors Affecting the Quality of Diabetic Care in Primary Care Settings in Oman: A qualitative study on patients’ perspectives.,” Sultan Qaboos University medical journal, vol. 11, no. 2. pp. 207-13, May-2011.
-
Reitzer, L. J., & Magasanik, B. (1986). Transcription of glnA in E. coli is stimulated by activator bound to sites far from the promoter. Cell, 45(6), 785-92. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2871943
+
[4] L. J. Reitzer and B. Magasanik, “Transcription of glnA in E. coli is stimulated by activator bound to sites far from the promoter.,” Cell, vol. 45, no. 6, pp. 785-92, Jun. 1986.
-
Magasanik, B. (1989). Regulation of transcription of the glnALG operon of Escherichia coli by protein phosphorylation. Biochimie, 71(9-10), 1005-12. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2574599
+
[5] B. Magasanik, “Regulation of transcription of the glnALG operon of Escherichia coli by protein phosphorylation.,” Biochimie, vol. 71, no. 9-10, pp. 1005-12, 1989.
-
Keener, J., & Kustu, S. (1988). Protein kinase and phosphoprotein phosphatase activities of nitrogen regulatory proteins NTRB and NTRC of enteric bacteria: roles of the conserved amino-terminal domain of NTRC. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 85(14), 4976-80. Retrieved from http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=281670&tool=pmcentrez&rendertype=abstract
+
[6] J. Keener and S. Kustu, “Protein kinase and phosphoprotein phosphatase activities of nitrogen regulatory proteins NTRB and NTRC of enteric bacteria: roles of the conserved amino-terminal domain of NTRC.,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 85, no. 14, pp. 4976-80, Jul. 1988.
-
Two-component and phosphorelay systems Signal transduction systems. (n.d.).http://www2.hawaii.edu/~scallaha/SMCsite/475%20Lectures/475Lecture36.pdf
+
[7] J. R. Kelly et al., “Measuring the activity of BioBrick promoters using an in vivo reference standard.,” Journal of biological engineering, vol. 3, p. 4, Jan. 2009.
</font>
</font>
 +
</div>

Latest revision as of 03:56, 6 October 2011

Contents

Project Hunger

Carnivorous E.coli attracts insects by emitting light, but it is a burden for the E.coli. To reduce this burden, we use nitrogen regulatory proteins, NtrB and NtrC. They activate σ54 promoter when the supply of nitrogen is not enough. NtrB and NtrC are coded in glnL and glnG, respectively.

† NtrB and NtrC are otherwise called NRII, NRI

Introduction

Mechanism of Regulation of Transcription Depending on the Concentration of Glutamine

Ammonia is an essential nitrogen source for the bactria. When enteric bacteria are deprived of ammonia, they express glnA to produce glutamine synthetase(GS) under the σ54promoter. The transcription from σ54promoter is stimilated by phosphorylated form of NtrC(NtrC-P). The σ54 RNA polymerase binds to the glnA promoter, forming a closed complex, but cannot form an open complex and initiate transcription until it is activated by NtrC-P. NtrC is phosphorylated by NtrB-P, an autokinase which phosphorylates itself with ATPs. Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of NtrB and C are controlled so that a cell has sufficient NtrC-P when the concentration of ammoniacal source is low.

Fig.1 Regulation of σ54promoter
Fig.2 Cycles of NtrB and NtrC

The concentration of ammoniacal source is detected by the ratio of α-ketoglutarate to glutamine. If glutamine levels are low, less α-ketoglutarate is synthesized by GS and, as a result, Pii retains UMP and so cannot bind to NtrB. NtrB can then phosphorylate itself and transfer this phosphate to NtrC.

Fig.3 Detection of Ammoniacal Source
[GS Reaction Under Low NH3 Concentration]
Glutamate + NH3 + ADP  →  Glutamine + ADP + phosphate
                      GS
Glutamine + αketoglutarate  →  2 glutamate
                            GS

In our project, we decided to use NtrB and NtrC to control the expression level of genes for the following reasons:

  • They were not submitted to the partsregistry.
  • Many researches have been done on NtrB and NtrC, while there are not as many reports on Pii and GS.
  • The cell signalling mechanism can be made simple.
  • σ54promoter was not quantitatively characterized.

We characterized the σ54promoter by Relative Promoter Unit (RPU), because absolute promoter activity depends on test conditions and measuring instruments. RPU can reduce this Coefficient of Variation (CV) from 39.1% to 17.5% [2]. Therefore RPU can make it easier for us to share the data of promoter activity and use BioBricks.

We have used GFP fluorescence to measure RPU previously, but this time, we tried to calculate RPU using another way for the reasons below:

  • We know that it is a lot of trouble to calculate RPU using GFP fluorescence without platereader.
  • As the σ54promoter relates to the metabolism of glutamine, the change in the concentration of glutamine results into the change of activity of σ54promoter.

When we calculate RPU using GFP fluorescence, we need to measure GFP fluorescence at two points in an exponential growth phase and on the same glutamine concentration, but we have the following problems.

  • before E.coli reach exponential growth phase, the concentration of glutamine changes
  • the concentration of glutamine is different between one point and the other point.

We devised the new way of calculating RPU using the amount of mRNA, according to the following equation.

Kyoto kiga eqn2.png

We can characterize promoters with RPU easily by using this new way.

Method

We created the following two constructions to characterize σ54 promoter with RPU depending on the concentration of glutamine. One construction includes BBa_J23101 as a promoter which is used as the standard and the other includes binding sites and σ54 promoter.

Parts hunger.PNG

Result

New equation for measurement RPU

We get this new equation for measuring RPU.(in steady state)

Kyoto kiga eqn2.png

(To see the derivation, see Team:Kyoto/Hunger/Modeling.)


How long E.coli can keep steady state after transferred to medium lack of nutrition

To measure RPU by our new method, we need to know how long E.coli can keep steady state after transferred to medium lack of nutrition. We think that cell population and gene expression keep in steady state. So we measured OD600 and expression of stationary phase specific gene, csiE and bolA.


In order to measure the RPU of σ54promoter depending on glutamine concentration, the cellular density of mRNA must be measured when it is constant(this means that the concentration of glutamine is kept invariable). So, E.coli must be in the steady state. However, E.coli consumes glutamine and it is impossible to add glutamine at the first point of cultivation. Cultivation without any glutamine is necessary. Also, From our last year's experience, we knew that E.coli grew really inefficiently in M9 medium without glutamine, which is often suplied from the casamino acids. Thus, first we cultivated E.coli with casamino acids overnight, then exchanged the medium with that is free of casamino acids.

As a preliminary experiment of measurement of the RPU of σ54promoter, we performed an experiment to determine how long it takes to reach a steady state.

A.PNG

B.PNG

C.PNG

We cultivated E.coli in M9 media(+ casamino acids) for about 15 hours and dispenced 2.4ml to each tubes. Then, we centrifuged these tubes (13,000 rpm , 4°C, 1min) and discarded the supernatant. We added 2.4ml media(- casamino acids) and centrifuged at 4°C twice. Again, we centrifuged these tubes and discarded the supernatant and added 2.4ml media(-casamino acids) at 37 °C. We brought up E.coli at 0,5,10,15,20,25,30,60min and mesured OD600 and extracted RNA and synthesized cDNA. Finally, we used real time PCR.


Following table is the result of OD600 in the preliminary experiment.

over night culture 0min 5min 10min 15min 20min 25min 30min 60min
OD600 1.643 1.600 1.605 1.594 1.563 1.550 1.587 1.595 1.653

To use real time PCR, we need to choose internal control to correct data. We use GAPDH, TBP, PGK, and actin as candidate of internal control and research which gene is suitable to internal control.

Following graphs are the results of real time PCR in the preliminary experiment.

Fig.1 :graph1. the relative RNA expression level

This table is the relative RNA expression level used in graph1.

0min 5min 10min 15min 20min 25min 30min 60min
GAPDH 1 1.15796 1.477987 0.669569 0.216789 0.123519 0.158918 0.090074
TBP 1 1.586912 3.103184 36.00222 16.53465 16.81689 26.70678 14.0751
PGK 1 2.764137 2.807991 1.45171 0.473917 0.235602 0.689141 0.309861
actin 1 1.31823 1.743549 0.626175 0.316547 0.152318 0.191665 0.125879
Fig.2 :graph2. the relative RNA expression level except TBP

This table is the relative RNA expression level except TBP used in graph2.

0min 5min 10min 15min 20min 25min 30min 60min
GAPDH 1 1.15796 1.477987 0.669569 0.216789 0.123519 0.158918 0.090074
PGK 1 2.764137 2.807991 1.45171 0.473917 0.235602 0.689141 0.309861
actin 1 1.31823 1.743549 0.626175 0.316547 0.152318 0.191665 0.125879


Fig.3 :graph3. the relative RNA expression level corrected by PGK

This table is the relative RNA expression level corrected by PGK used in graph3.

0min 5min 10min
GAPDH 1 0.445449 0.588774
TBP 1 0.60403 1.191124
actin 1 0.520922 0.680571
Fig.4 :graph4. the relative RNA expression level corrected by TBP

This table is the relative RNA expression level corrected by TBP used in graph4.

0min 5min 10min
GAPDH 1 0.733254 0.478325
PGK 1 1.702282 0.897464
actin 1 0.84523 0.562937
Fig.5 :graph5. the relative RNA expression level corrected by GAPDH

This table is the relative RNA expression level corrected by GAPDH used in graph5.

0min 5min 10min
TBP 1 1.365421 2.127406
PGK 1 2.337666 1.973042
actin 1 1.149192 1.188311
Fig.6 :graph6. the relative RNA expression level corrected by actin

This table is the relative RNA expression level corrected by actin used in graph6.

0min 5min 10min
GAPDH 1 0.877036 0.84605
TBP 1 1.20119 1.782596
PGK 1 2.086329 1.623779

From these result, we chose GAPDH and actin as internal control. Next, we measured csiE and bolA, stationary phase specific gene, expression level to confirm whether 0~10 minutes after transferred is steady state.

Fig.7 :graph7. the csiE, stationary phase specific gene, expression level corrected by GAPDH or actin

This table is the csiE, stationary phase specific gene, expression level corrected by GAPDH or actin used in graph7.

csiE 0min 5min 10min 15min
corrected by GAPDH 1 1.225641019 0.783607523 5.373500165
corrected by actin 1 0.979871284 0.711422654 5.451538605
Fig.8 :graph8. the bolA, stationary phase specific gene, expression level corrected by GAPDH or actin

This table is the bolA, stationary phase specific gene, expression level corrected by GAPDH or actin used in graph8.

bolA 0min 5min 10min 15min
corrected by GAPDH 1 0.938259866 0.516878973 3.324786006
corrected by actin 1 0.750116784 0.469264778 3.373071314

Discussion

Graph1 shows the relative RNA expression level(GAPDH,TBP,PGK,actin) which is not corrected by internal control gene. Although the initial RNA expression level is not equal, it can be said that more than twice the difference is not an accidental error of the experiment. Since the expression level of TBP becomes 35 times higher than its initial amount in 15 minutes, we can say that TBP is not suitable for the internal control and that E.coli is not in the steady state after 15 minutes in this experiment.

Graph2 is the same data with the graph1 except TBP. Since the expression level of PGK changes a lot, PGK is not suitable for the internal control either. In 0-10 minutes the expression level of GAPDH and actin doesn’t change so much and behave similarly.

Graph3-6 show the data corrected by each internal control. When GAPDH is used as the internal control, the change of actin is little (x1.0~1.2) When actin is used as the internal control, the change of GAPDH is little (x0.8~1.0) According from these data, we assumed that GAPDH and actin is suitable for the internal control and that steady state is probably 0~10 minutes.


Graph7,8 is the data of stationary phase specific genes corrected by GAPDH or actin as internal control. These graphes show that 10 minutes is not steady state but 0~5 minutes is steady state. So, we know the timing of steady state and can measure RPU with our new way.

Reference

[1] P. Jiang and A. J. Ninfa, “Escherichia coli PII signal transduction protein controlling nitrogen assimilation acts as a sensor of adenylate energy charge in vitro.,” Biochemistry, vol. 46, no. 45, pp. 12979-96, Nov. 2007.

[2] J. R. Kelly et al., “Measuring the activity of BioBrick promoters using an in vivo reference standard.,” Journal of biological engineering, vol. 3, p. 4, Jan. 2009.

[3] M. Al-Azri, H. Al-Azri, F. Al-Hashmi, S. Al-Rasbi, K. El-Shafie, and A. Al-Maniri, “Factors Affecting the Quality of Diabetic Care in Primary Care Settings in Oman: A qualitative study on patients’ perspectives.,” Sultan Qaboos University medical journal, vol. 11, no. 2. pp. 207-13, May-2011.

[4] L. J. Reitzer and B. Magasanik, “Transcription of glnA in E. coli is stimulated by activator bound to sites far from the promoter.,” Cell, vol. 45, no. 6, pp. 785-92, Jun. 1986.

[5] B. Magasanik, “Regulation of transcription of the glnALG operon of Escherichia coli by protein phosphorylation.,” Biochimie, vol. 71, no. 9-10, pp. 1005-12, 1989.

[6] J. Keener and S. Kustu, “Protein kinase and phosphoprotein phosphatase activities of nitrogen regulatory proteins NTRB and NTRC of enteric bacteria: roles of the conserved amino-terminal domain of NTRC.,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 85, no. 14, pp. 4976-80, Jul. 1988.

[7] J. R. Kelly et al., “Measuring the activity of BioBrick promoters using an in vivo reference standard.,” Journal of biological engineering, vol. 3, p. 4, Jan. 2009.