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I. INTRO

We will be changing the color-generating chromophore of the purple Acropora millepora chromoprotein (amilCP) to a variety of orange, pink, and blue mutants. These divergently-colored genetic variants of amilCP were described by Liljeruhm et al in 2018. Their strategy to identify where to mutate amilCP was inferred by sequence similarities to the chromophore region that allows for spectral engineering of the structurally-characterized and well-known green fluorescent protein (GFP), which is native to the jellyfish Aequorea victoria.

First we will prepare for a Gibson assembly by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to produce two sets of amplicons as inserts and a restriction digest of the common cloning plasmid pUC19 to produce a new backbone (i.e. origin of replication and drug resistance gene). As template, both reactions use the amilCP-encoding plasmid that was miniprepped from the Addgene mUAV sample (deposited by the Nakayama lab at the University of Edinburgh and related to their paper on Mobius Assembly via a Mobius Assembly Universal Acceptor Vector). One set of amplicons copy the region of the amilCP gene that precedes the chromophore, including the transcription promoter and translation ribosome-binding site (RBS). Another set amplicons copy the region that spans 24 basepairs before the chromophore to just beyond the gene's transcription terminators. The latter includes a diversified chromophore-coding segment dictated by mismatches in the PCR primers with respect to the mUAV DNA template. The amplicon sets both include one end that overlaps by 20-22 bases with distinct ends of the large backbone fragment from the pUC19 digest. Lastly, we will express our colorful variety of amilCP mutants in chemically competent E coli cell.

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II. WORKFLOW

1. Digest the pUC19 plasmid with the restriction enzyme PvuII to generate the linear blunt-ended backbone fragment.

1.1 Prepare the reaction in a PCR tube

To Reaction                                                         V/50 uL

‍DNase/RNase-Free Water                         40 uL

2 ug pUC19 (1 ug/ul)                                       2 uL

10x NEB Buffer CutSmart                           5 uL

NEB PvuII-HF                                                     3 uL

1.2 Incubate reactions at 37C for at least 15 minutes in thermocycler.

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2. Amplify PCR fragments for the gene assembly of amilCP mutants

2.1 Prepare the reaction in a PCR tube to produce the universal chromophore-preceding fragment:

To Reaction                                                                                                                                          V/50 uL

‍DNase/RNase-Free Water18 uL200 ng min prepped amilCP (100 ng/ul)    2 uL

Forward primer with tail that overlaps with cut pUC19 (10 uM)                       2.5 uL

Reverse primer preceding the chromophore (10 uM)                                              2.5 uL

2x Phusion High-Fidelity PCR Master Mix                                                                      25 uL

2.2 Prepare the reaction in a PCR tube to produce the chromophore mutant library fragments:

To Reaction                                                                                                                                        V/50 uL Totral

‍DNase/RNase-Free Water18 uL200 ng min prepped amilCP (100 ng/ul)   2 uL

Reverse primer with tail that overlaps with cut pUC19 (10 uM)                       2.5 uL

Forward primer overlaps with the universal reverse primer (10 uM)            2.5 uL

2x Phusion High-Fidelity PCR Master Mix                                                                     25 uL

2.3 Thermocycle reactions in a PCR program with with following program.

• Initial heat denature DNA at 98C for 30 seconds
• Repeat the following for 35 cycles:

                        Denature DNA at 98C for 10 seconds

                        Anneal primers at 60C for 20 seconds                       

                        Extend from primers with DNA polymerase primers at 72C for 1 minute. (Account for 1kb/30sec processivity)

• Final extension at 72C for 5 minutes.
• Hold at 4C until samples are retrieved.

3. Purify the DNA products from your reactions using the Zymo DNA Clean & Concentrator™-25 Kit. The following protocol is copied from Zymo Research and based on silica adsorption.

3.1 For each reaction: In a 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube, add 5x volumes of DNA Binding Buffer to each volume of reaction. Mix briefly by vortexing.

3.2 Transfer each mixture into a separate Zymo-Spin™ Column in a Collection Tube.

3.3 Centrifuge for 30 seconds at 13,000 rpm (~17,900 x g). Discard the flow-through.

3.4 Add 200 µl DNA Wash Buffer to the column. Centrifuge at for 30 seconds at 13,000 rpm (~17,900 x g). Repeat the wash step.

3.5 Transfer the column to a new 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube and add 25 µl of DNase/RNase-free water directly to the column matrix. Let sit at room temperature for one minute.

3.6 Centrifuge for 30 seconds at 13,000 rpm (~17,900 x g) to elute.

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4. Measure the concentration of your purified DNA using the Nanodrop spectrophotometer.

4.1 Clean stage with Kimwipe soaked with DI water.

4.2 Wipe stage with dry Kimwipe.

4.3 Add 2 uL DI water on stage and make blank measurement.

4.4 Wipe stage with dry Kimwipe.

4.5 For each DNA sample, add 2 uL and measure and record the concentration (ng/uL). Wipe stage dry with Kimwipe between measurements.

4.6 To finish, clean stage with Kimwipe soaked with DI water and then wipe dry.

4.7 Nanodrop results

g/. Setup your Gibson Assembly reaction in PCR tubes.

5.1 In a 10 ul total volume, mix 100 ng of cut vector (PvuII digest) with a 2-fold excess of gene fragment (PCR reactions) in DNase/RNase-free water. Molar ratios can be approximated by the lengths of the DNA products. Note, the large fragment of the digested pUC19 is 2,364 bp. The gene fragment amplicons are 353 bp and 777 bp. (( [ng of vector] x [kb size of insert] ) / ( kb size of vector )) x ( insert:vector ratio) = ng of insert required

5.2 Combine with 10 ul 2x Gibson Master Mix.

5.3 Incubate in the thermocycler at 50C for at least 15 minutes.

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6. Heat shock assemblies into chemically competent E coli.

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6.1 Move Gibson assembly into a cold block on ice.

6.2 Thaw chemically competent cells on ice for 10 minutes.

6.3 Aliquot 50 ul cells into a PCR strip kept in a cold block on ice.

6.4 Add 5 µl of the assembled product to the competent cells. Mix gently by pipetting up and down or by flicking the tube 4–5 times. Do not vortex.

6.5 Place the mixture on ice for 20 minutes. Do not mix

6.6 Heat shock in the thermocycler at 42C for 30 seconds. Do not mix.

6.7 Transfer tubes to ice for 2 minutes.

6.8 Combine heat-shocked cells with 500 ul of room-temperature SOC media in a new 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube.

6.9 Spread 250 µl of the cells onto the ampicillin selection plates.

6.10 Incubate overnight at 37 C in the warm room.

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III. RESULTS

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