GFP Transformation Lab

1. GFP Transformation Lab Images taken without permission from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/de/4/4d/Protein_GFP_1EMA.png, http://bioinfo.biotec.or.th/Picture/Cell%20Tutorial/image005.jpg, http://www.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/Haseloff/SITEGRAPHICS/Jellyfish.jpeg

2. Plasmid containing gene of interest Protein we want to produce Overall Goal of Lab Experiment • Use genetic engineering techniques to insert the GFP gene into E. coli

3. GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) • Naturally produced in Jellyfish– Aequorea victoria • Discovered in 1960’s • Source of bioluminescence when exposed to UV light Img Src: http://icbxs.ethz.ch/members/leu/jellyfish.gif , http://www.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/Haseloff/SITEGRAPHICS/Jellyfish.jpeg

4. Structure of the GFP Protein Img Src: http://wwwchem.leidenuniv.nl/metprot/armand/images/029l.jpg

5. Why Is Bioluminescence Useful in Nature? • Attract Mates • See Food • Defense Img Src: http://www.sio.ucsd.edu/explorations/biolum/images/Latz_p1.jpg Img Src: http://www.biolum.org/

6. How GFP is being used • Tag Cells (to detect specific cells) • Act as a reporter gene • - link it to another gene to show if it is expressed • Expressed in entire animals Img Src: http://www.bio.umass.edu/microscopy/images/gfp.jpg Img Src: http://www.mshri.on.ca/nagy/graphics/GFP%20mice.jpg Img Src: http://www.antville.org/img/pop/gfp.jpg Img Src: http://www.computerra.ru/pubimages/73944.jpg

7. Nobel Prize 2008 • In 2008, 3 scientists were awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on GFP

8. pGFP plasmid • The plasmid we’re using in the lab • 2 genes of interest: • GFP gene • Codes for the GFP protein • ampR gene • Codes for the enzyme b-lactamase • b-lactamase destroys the antibiotic ampicillin

9. Selecting for Transformed Cells • Selection = process to determine which E. coli successfully took in a plasmid • Achieved through the use of selectable markers • Selectable markers = traits that help identify a cell with the plasmid in it (compared to one without it) • In our experiment, the ampR gene will serve as the selectable marker Images taken without permission from http://www.antibioresistance.be/Gifs_Ant/blue2.gif and http://www.antibioticos.it/images/formule%20chimiche/ampicillin.gif

10. Review Question… • What protein does the ampR gene code for? • b-lactamase protein • What does this protein do? • Digests the antibiotic ampicillin • How could the ampR gene serve as a selectable marker? • Only cells with the pGFP plasmid will make b-lactamase  are resistant to ampicillin

11. Growing E. coli • Bacteria is grown on LB agar • LB agar contains all of the nutrients and amino acids E. coli need to survive • Other substances such as antibiotics can also be added to the LB agar.

12. grown on plain LB agar E. coli cells that have gone through the tranformation process grown on LB agar with ampicillin Selection Process All E. coli grow (transformed and untransformed) Only transformed cells grow

13. Controls • Grow E. coli without plasmid (- DNA) on plain LB agar • Make sure E. coli can grow • Grow E. coli without plasmid (- DNA) on LB/amp • Make sure E. coli aren’t already resistant to ampicillin

14. Transformation Efficiency • Quantitative measurement of how well the transformation worked. • Measures the number of bacteria transformed by 1 mg of plasmid DNA. = total # of cells growing amount of DNA spread on plate