NPIF: A synthetic biology approach to engineering novel commercial variants of cyanobacterial pigment proteins
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Sch of Biological Sciences
Abstract
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Publications
Vasudevan R
(2019)
CyanoGate: A Modular Cloning Suite for Engineering Cyanobacteria Based on the Plant MoClo Syntax
in Plant Physiology
Gale GAR
(2019)
Genetic Modification of Cyanobacteria by Conjugation Using the CyanoGate Modular Cloning Toolkit.
in Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/R505511/1 | 30/09/2017 | 31/01/2022 | |||
| 1948588 | Studentship | BB/R505511/1 | 30/09/2017 | 31/12/2021 | Anton Puzorjov |
| NE/W503149/1 | 31/03/2021 | 30/03/2022 | |||
| 1948588 | Studentship | NE/W503149/1 | 30/09/2017 | 31/12/2021 | Anton Puzorjov |
| Description | 1. A novel set of synthetic biology tools for cyanobacteria (CyanoGate) has been developed and made available to the public 2. Novel commercially relevant cyanobacterial strains have been developed with the capability to produce variants of CPC with increased thermostability 3. On the 4th of March 2020 we submitted a review paper to the Journal of Experimental Botany (JXB). The review provides in-depth coverage of the light-harvesting complexes, including CPC, found in extreme environments. |
| Exploitation Route | Novel cyanobacterial strains might be used for commercial production of novel CPC with improved thermostability. Once published, the review paper could be used by the research community to further explore the genetic diversity provided by the organisms from extreme environments and their applicability to the industry. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Description | Research outputs have contributed to a Proof of Concept Algae-UK grant application with my industrial partner ScotBio to develop mesophilic CPC strain for commercial use in the food, beverage and textile industries |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Societal Economic |
| Title | CyanoGate: A Modular Cloning Suite for Engineering Cyanobacteria Based on the Plant MoClo Syntax |
| Description | By building on the assembly library and syntax of the Plant Golden Gate MoClo kit, we have developed a versatile set of advanced DNA assembly tools called CyanoGate. We described the generation of a suite of parts and acceptor vectors for making (1) marked/unmarked knock-outs or integrations using an integrative acceptor vector, and (2) transient multigene expression and repression systems using known and previously undescribed replicative vectors. We tested and compared the CyanoGate system in the established model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and the more recently described fast-growing strain Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The publication has been cited 15 times within the first year following the publication. The system is publicly available through a nonprofit plasmid repository (http://www.addgene.org/browse/article/28196941/) and can be readily expanded to accommodate other standardized MoClo parts to accelerate the development of reliable synthetic biology tools for the cyanobacterial community. |
| URL | http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/180/1/39.abstract |
| Title | Genetic Modification of Cyanobacteria by Conjugation Using the CyanoGate Modular Cloning Toolkit |
| Description | We presented a protocol describing how to i) assemble a self-replicating vector using the CyanoGate modular cloning toolkit, ii) introduce the vector into a cyanobacterial host by conjugation, and iii) characterize transgenic cyanobacteria strains using a plate reader or flow cytometry. |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The online article and the video guide have been viewed over 1,500 times within the first 4 months following the publication. |
| URL | https://www.jove.com/video/60451/genetic-modification-cyanobacteria-conjugation-using-cyanogate |
| Description | Collaboration with the Institute for Bioengineering (Dr Katherine Dunn) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We initiated this collaboration and conducted all experimental work. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborator provided training and access to the state-of-the-art equipment to measure the stability of fluorescent proteins. |
| Impact | We conducted a comprehensive analysis of thermostability of novel fluorescent pigment proteins which will contribute to a publication in a high impact journal. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Collaboration with the School of Chemistry (Prof Anita C Jones) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | School of Chemistry |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We initiated this collaboration and conducted all experimental work. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborator provided training and access to the state-of-the-art equipment to measure the efficiency of the energy transfer in novel cyanobacterial strains. |
| Impact | We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the energy transfer in novel cyanobacterial strains which will contribute to a publication in a high impact journal. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Industrial partnership with ScotBio |
| Organisation | ScotBio |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The knowledge, expertise and equipment available in our lab contribute to the development and testing of new products for the industrial partner. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner provided us with the growth equipment and expertise to set up an upscale production in our lab. |
| Impact | I have created a superior version of a blue pigment-protein (phycocyanin) with a significantly improved thermostability. This has led to a Proof of Concept Algae-UK grant application as well as to an MSc student project. It has also helped to increase engagement with the new industries, such as the textile industry, which has not been considered previously. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Bioinformatics Workshop at Eastwood High School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | We conducted a workshop on bioinformatics for 15 final year pupils at Eastwood High School. The pupils learnt how to query biological sequence databases by performing BLAST searches. They used the BLAST computer program on the National Center for Biotechnology Information's Web server. They also learnt how to do a BLAST search by using the LINUX command line. They then learnt how to interpret the biological implications of the results, with particular reference to mutations and function. Key Concepts Bioinformatics - Sequence databases - Fasta format - BLAST - DNA sequences - Protein sequences - Substitution, insertion and deletion mutations - Pseudogenes - GUI - Command line - Scientific investigative approaches. The students reported improved understanding of the topic and increased interest towards studying STEM subjects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | PCR workshops at the National Museum of Scotland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Hands-on biotechnology workshops delivered for 40 senior school pupils. 'A Question of Taste', enables pupils to carry out PCR (polymerase chain reaction). PCR, an important technique in biotechnology, is part of the curriculum but pupils rarely have the opportunity to carry it out themselves. Pupils are studying Higher or Advanced Higher Biology (aged 15 - 17). Pupils discovered and compared their version of a bitter taste receptor gene (their genotype) to their ability to taste the bitter compound (their phenotype). They carried out the laboratory techniques of DNA extraction, PCR, restriction enzyme digestion and gel electrophoresis. At the end of the workshop, pupils reported improved understanding of the topic (PCR) and increased interest in studying STEM subjects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |