Boston University

From 2007.igem.org

Revision as of 13:57, 30 May 2007

About Us

Welcome to the wiki for Boston University's iGEM 2007 team!

Our team consists of David Shi, Rahul Ahuja, Christian Ling, and Danny Bellin, all soon-to-be juniors majoring in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University.

We are advised by [http://www.bu.edu/dbin/bme/faculty/?prof=tgardner Dr. Timothy Gardner], Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, as well as Frank Juhn and Stephen Schneider, students in the [http://gardnerlab.bu.edu/ Gardner Laboratory], where we work. We are grateful to our advisors for their time and support!

We are also grateful to [http://www.pfizer.com Pfizer], the [http://www.bu.edu/eng Boston University College of Engineering], and the [http://www.bu.edu/eng/bme Boston University Biomedical Engineering Department], for their generous support of our team.

Our Project Plan

Our project is aimed at increasing current production from [http://www.shewanella.org/ Shewanella oneidensis] by directed evolution of global transcription factors.

Our plan so far:

1. Mutate global transcription factors
   1. Design primers for amplification
   2. Perform error-prone PCR
2. Transform mutated genes into E. coli
   1. Choose plasmids
   2. Restriction enzyme digestion
   3. Ligation
   4. Transformation into E. coli
3. Conjugate E. coli with Shewanella
4. Screen/select Shewanella strains for increased current production due to mutations. Potential methods:
   1. Alginate (?) beads and fluorocytometer
   2. Metallo-Antibiotics
   3. (DB's random idea): Could we take advantage of spectrophotometry? Perhaps we could split our collection of mutants into different groups, measure their absorbances with spectrophotometry, and assume that the sample with the lowest absorbance contains mutants producing more electricity and therefore growing slower. We could then split this sample into different groups and repeat. While there might be some inefficient strains in the successful broth samples, on the whole, the broth might be a good one for use in a fuel cell. Problem: Low absorbance could be due to mutants losing viability. Potential Solution: Let initial sample grow for a while so all mutants unable to grow will die off, all mutants able to grow will thrive, and then perform the screen.

Week's (Ambitious) Goals

Wednesday 5/30

1. Get all protocols
2. Identify materials/prepare order
3. Design Primers
4. Learn about budget/POs

Thursday 5/31

1. Do primer order
2. Start conjugation practice
3. Confirm restriction enzymes, ligases
4. Order confirmed/needed materials
5. Team Revew Meeting
6. Draft Thank-You Letters for our Sponsors

Friday 6/1

1. Evaluate/continue conjugation, practice electroporation for E. coli
2. Revise proposal to include possibility of screening with alginate beads and fluorocytometer
3. Meeting with Tim: Budgets/protocols, Pfizer/fundraising, iGEM registration, beads

What We've Accomplished

Well we're basically finished. I mean, cloning's been done a billion times, so this should be a piece of cake...I think.

Materials We Need

Primers: Need to Buy

Error-Prone PCR: Need to Buy

Plasmids: Need to Buy?

Restriction Enzymes: Need to Buy?

Ligases: Need to Buy?

Short-Term To-Do List

Lab Orientation: Completed

• Lab Orientation Checklist

Lab Safety Training: Not Completed (Dave, Rahul, and Christian are scheduled for a training session on 5/30/07)

Design of Primers: Not Completed (Dave, please send me info about the finished primers when ready)

Ordering of Primers: Not Completed

Gathering of Protocols: Not Completed (Chris, please send me the protocols when they are gathered)

Ordering of Error-Prone PCR Materials: Not completed

Thank-You Letters to iGEM Funders: Not Completed

• Draft For Pfizer: Dear ___, We wish to express warm thanks for your sponsorship of the Boston University International Genetically Engineered Machine team and appreciation for your commitment to the training and development of future life scientists. We are truly excited by the prospect of applying our scientific knowledge in a more creative setting, and will do our best to use creative brainstorming, constructive teamwork, resourcefulness, and plenty of hard work in order to successfully achieve our goal of engineering electrogenically enhanced microbes. We are encouraged in this endeavor by the enthusiasm of our team members, the leadership of Dr. Gardner, and the generosity of institutions like Pfizer.

• Draft For BU Personnel: Dear ___, We wish to express warm thanks for your sponsorship of the Boston University International Genetically Engineered Machine team and appreciation for the University's commitment to such student projects. We are truly excited by the prospect of applying our scientific knowledge in a more creative setting, and will do our best to use creative brainstorming, constructive teamwork, resourcefulness, and plenty of hard work in order to successfully achieve our goal of engineering electrogenically enhanced microbes. We are encouraged in this endeavor by the enthusiasm of our team members, the leadership of Dr. Gardner, and the generosity of the University.

Relevant Publications