Name: a toolkit to enable hydrocarbon conversion in aqueous environments
Uploaded: 2012-10-02T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Toolkit to Enable Hydrocarbon Conversion in Aqueous Environments at JoVE.com

The experiments performed in this video-article were developed for the international Genetically Engineered Machine competition 9.The authors would like to thank iGEM team members Luke Bergwerff, Pieter T.M. van Boheemen, Jelmer Cnossen, Hugo F. Cueto Rojas and Ramon van der Valk for the assistance in the research. We thank Han de Winde, Stefan de Kok and Eseng&uuml;l Y&#305;ld&#305;r&#305;m for helpful discussions and hosting this research. This work was supported by the TU Delft University Department of Biotechnology, The Delft Bioinformatics lab, TU Delft Department of Bionanoscience, Oil Sands Leadership Initiative (OSLI), StuD studentenuitzendbureau, Netherlands Genomics Initiative, Kluyver Centre, Nederlandse Biotechnologische Vereniging (Stichting Biotechnology Nederland), DSM, Geneart, Greiner bio-one and Genencor.

1. BioBrick Assembly
<ol>
 <li>BioBricks from the Registry of Standard Biological parts are provided by iGEM headquarters. To construct a new BioBrick from existing BioBricks, digest the donor BioBrick (up to 1.0 &mu;g) with the enzymes EcoRI and SpeI for positioning the donor part downstream of the acceptor part. Digest with XbaI and PstI for positioning the donor part upstream of the acceptor part. Add a third appropriate restriction enzyme that cuts in the backbone of the donor. Perform the digestions in a total vol...

<ol>
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Bacteriol. 178, 1248-1257 (1995).</li><li>Feng, L., Wang, W., Cheng, J., Ren, Y., Zhao, G., Gao, C., Tang, Y., Liu, X., Han, W., Peng, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genome+and+proteome+of+long-chain+alkane+degrading+Geobacillus+thermodenitrificans+NG80-2+isolated+from+a+deep-subsurface+oil+reservoir.">Genome and proteome of long-chain alkane degrading Geobacillus thermodenitrificans NG80-2 isolated from a deep-subsurface oil reservoir.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 104 (13), 5602-5607 (2007).</li><li>Fujii, T., Narikawa, T., Takeda, K., Kato, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biotransformation+of+various+alkanes+using+the+Escherichia+coli+expressing+an+alkane+hydroxylase+system+from+Gordonia+sp.+TF6.">Biotransformation of various alkanes using the Escherichia coli expressing an alkane hydroxylase system from Gordonia sp. TF6.</a> Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 68 (10), 2171-2177 (2004).</li><li>Kato, T., Miyanaga, A., Haruki, M., Imanaka, T., Morikawa, M., Gene Kanaya, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=cloning+of+an+alcohol+dehydrogenase+from+thermophilic+alkane-degrading+Bacillus+thermoleovorans+B23.">cloning of an alcohol dehydrogenase from thermophilic alkane-degrading Bacillus thermoleovorans B23.</a> J. Biosci. Bioeng. 91 (1), 100-102 (2001).</li><li>Kato, T., Miyanaga, A., Kanaya, S., Morikawa, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Gene+cloning+and+characterization+of+an+aldehyde+dehydrogenase+from+long-chain+alkane-degrading+Geobacillus+thermoleovorans+B23.">Gene cloning and characterization of an aldehyde dehydrogenase from long-chain alkane-degrading Geobacillus thermoleovorans B23.</a> Extremophiles. 14, 33-39 (2010).</li><li>Kieboom, J., De Bont, J. a. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Bacterial Stress Responses. , (2000).</li><li>Kotte, O., Zaugg, J. B., Heinemann, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bacterial+adaptation+through+distributed+sensing+of+metabolic+fluxes.">Bacterial adaptation through distributed sensing of metabolic fluxes.</a> Mol Syst Biol. 6, 355 (2010).</li><li>Kremling, A., Bettenbrock, K., Gilles, E. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Analysis+of+global+control+of+Escherichia+coli+carbohydrate+uptake.">Analysis of global control of Escherichia coli carbohydrate uptake.</a> BMC Syst. Biol. 1, (2007).</li><li>Li, L., Liu, X., Yang, W., Xu, F., Wang, W., Feng, L., Bartlam, M., Wang, L., Rao, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Crystal+structure+of+long-chain+alkane+monooxygenase+(LadA)+in+complex+with+coenzyme+FMN:+unveiling+the+long-chain+alkane+hydroxylase.">Crystal structure of long-chain alkane monooxygenase (LadA) in complex with coenzyme FMN: unveiling the long-chain alkane hydroxylase.</a> J. Mol. Biol. 376 (2), 453-465 (2008).</li><li>Lin, H. Y., Mathiszik, B., Xu, B., Enfors, S. O., Neubauer, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Determination+of+the+maximum+specific+uptake+capacities+for+glucose+and+oxygen+in+glucose-limited+fed-batch+cultivations+of+Escherichia+coli.">Determination of the maximum specific uptake capacities for glucose and oxygen in glucose-limited fed-batch cultivations of Escherichia coli.</a> Biotechnol. Bioeng. 73 (5), 347-357 (2001).</li><li>Okochi, M., Kanie, K., Kurimoto, M., Yohda, M., Honda, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Overexpression+of+prefoldin+from+the+hyperthermophilic+archaeum+Pyrococcus+horikoshii+OT3+endowed+Escherichia+coli+with+organic+solvent+tolerance.">Overexpression of prefoldin from the hyperthermophilic archaeum Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 endowed Escherichia coli with organic solvent tolerance.</a> Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 79 (3), 443-449 (2008).</li><li>Rehm, H. J., Reiff, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanisms+and+occurrence+of+microbial+oxidation+of+long-chain+alkanes.">Mechanisms and occurrence of microbial oxidation of long-chain alkanes.</a> Adv. Biochem. Eng. / Biotechnol. 19, 175-215 (1981).</li><li>Rojo, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Degradation+of+alkanes+by+bacteria.">Degradation of alkanes by bacteria.</a> Environ. Microbiol. 11 (10), 2477-2490 (2009).</li><li>Van Beilen, J. B., Panke, S., Lucchini, S., Franchini, A. G., Rothlisberger, M., Witholt, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Analysis+of+Pseudomonas+putida+alkane-degradation+gene+clusters+and+flanking+insertion+sequences:+evolution+and+regulation+of+the+alk+genes.">Analysis of Pseudomonas putida alkane-degradation gene clusters and flanking insertion sequences: evolution and regulation of the alk genes.</a> Microbiology. 147, 1621-1630 (2001).</li><li>Wang, L., Tang, Y., Wang, S., Liu, R. L., Liu, M. Z., Zhang, Y., Liang, F. L., Feng, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+and+characterization+of+a+novel+thermophilic+Bacillus+strain+degrading+long-chain+n-alkanes.">Isolation and characterization of a novel thermophilic Bacillus strain degrading long-chain n-alkanes.</a> Extremophiles. 10 (4), 347-356 (2006).</li></ol>

The BioBrick principle is used to construct a chassis for the degradation of alkanes and a proof of principle for the single components of the toolkit was obtained. Several assays are proposed to measure the in vivo and in vitro activity of alkane degrading pathway enzymes. The presented work successfully demonstrates a number of methods that can be used to determine enzyme activities and expression in the host organism E. coli after implementation of suitable BioBricks. Furthermore, it is show...

Oil pollution is among the most serious causes of environmental contamination, and greatly affects ecosystems, businesses and communities 3. Solutions are for example required to battle the continuous oil pollution originating from the oil sands tailing waters in Alberta, Canada. During the process of oil extraction from oil sands, bitumen, a semi-solid oxidized form of oil, is removed using thermal recovery techniques that consume about 3.1 barrels of water per single barrel of oil 1. Oil contaminated process water, mainly originating from a local river, is stored in tailing ponds after bitumen extraction. A more effective recycling of process water in order to reduce the need for freshwater uptake is needed. To facilitate the bitumen extraction and to ensure that downstream sites meet water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic ecosystems, process water treatments are rapidly evolving 3.
To treat pollution of organic compounds, bioremediation technologies employing microorganisms are presently encouraged 1. Alkanes are the most abundant family of hydrocarbons in crude oil, containing 5 to 40 carbon atoms per molecule 7, 21. Many bacteria are known to degrade alkanes of various lengths via sequential oxidation of the terminal methyl group forming first alcohols, then aldehydes and finally fatty acids 8. Within this iGEM project several enzymes from different organisms were expressed and characterized, and made available via the BioBrick standard and Registry of Standard Biological Parts.
The well-studied alkane hydroxylase system of Gordonia sp. TF6 facilitates the initial oxidation step of C5-C13 alkanes along with that of C5-C8 cycloalkanes using a minimum of four components: alkB2 (alkane 1-monooxygenase), rubA3, rubA4 (two rubredoxins) and RubB (rubredoxin reductase) 8, 21. Oxidation of long-chain alkanes (ranging from C15 up to C36) is reported to be performed by ladA, a flavoprotein alkane monooxygenase from Geobacillus thermodinitrificans NG-80-2 7, 15, 18, 22. LadA forms a catalytic complex with flavin mononucleotide (FMN) that utilizes atomic oxygen for oxidation. This results in the conversion of alkanes into the corresponding primary alkanol. The alcohols are further oxidized by alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases to fatty acids, which readily enter the &beta;-oxidation pathway 7, 21. A zinc-independent alcohol dehydrogenase from the thermophillic bacterium Geobacillus thermoleovorans B23 oxidizes medium-chain alkanols into their respective alkanals, using NAD+ as a cofactor 10. Aldehyde dehydrogenase from the same bacterium is able to catalyze the NAD+-dependent final step in the medium-chain oxidation 11.
In order to reduce induction costs and to maintain optimal proliferation of the bacterial system, the promoter pCaiF from E.coli was characterized. This promoter can regulate expression of the hydrocarbon degradation pathway components, and is regulated by cAMP-Crp levels, which in turn depend on glucose levels 6. At high extracellular glucose concentrations in the environment the cellular cAMP (cyclic Adenosine Mononucleotide Phosphate) level was low through the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase as a side effect of PTS mediated glucose transport. Conversely, during limitation (low glucose concentrations) the cAMP level increased and Crp bound to cAMP forming the complex, cAMP-Crp, which bound pCaiF and activated transcription of the downstream components 6, 14.
Wildtype E. coli can only tolerate moderate concentrations of hydrocarbons. To complete the toolkit, tolerance to hydrocarbons had to be addressed. Several organic solvent-tolerant bacteria are known to survive in water-solvent two-phase systems 12. Molecular components known to increase tolerance are chaperones that facilitate the correct folding of proteins. The prefoldin system from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3, consisting of the proteins phPFD&alpha; and phPFD&beta;, was shown to increase hydrocarbon-tolerance 17.
The alkane conversion toolkit was constructed following the BioBrick principle, which is documented at the Registry of Standard Biological Parts 9. BioBricks are plasmids containing a specific functional insert that is flanked by 4 predefined restriction sites. The BioBrick inserts can be extended flexibly, allowing the construction of biological systems with new functions.

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Name of the reagent</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalogue number</td>
			<td>Comments (optional)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>E. coli K12</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs</td>
			<td>C2523H</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Octane</td>
			<td>Fluka</td>
			<td>74822</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hexadecane</td>
			<td>Fluka</td>
			<td>52209</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>octanol-1</td>
			<td>Fluka</td>
			<td>95446</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>dodecanol-1</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>126799</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hexane</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>296090</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NADH</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>N4505</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FMN</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>F2253</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MgSO4</td>
			<td>J.T. Baker Casno</td>
			<td>7487 889</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>T8787</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>T4 ligase</td>
			<td>New England Biolabs</td>
			<td>M0202L</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gas chromatograph</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell disrupter</td>
			<td>LA Biosystems</td>
			<td>CD-019</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Spectrophotometer</td>
			<td>Amersham pharmacia</td>
			<td>spec 2000</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plate reader</td>
			<td>Tecan</td>
			<td>Magellan v7.0</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Incubator</td>
			<td>Innova, 44</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BioBrick K398014: 
			BBa_J23100-BBa_J61100-alkB2-BBa_J61100-rubA3-BBa_J61100-rubA4- BBa_J61100-rubB</td>
			<td>Delft University of Technology at the department of Biotechnology or Registry of Standard Biological Parts</td>
			<td><a href="http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K398014" target="_blank">BBa_K398014</a></td>
			<td>Alkane Hydroxylase System 
			Resistance: Chloramphenicol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BioBrick K398027: BBa_R0040-BBa_B0034-ladA</td>
			<td>Delft University of Technology at the department of Biotechnology or Registry of Standard Biological Parts</td>
			<td><a href="http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K398027" target="_blank">BBa_K398027</a></td>
			<td>ladA Protein Generator 
			Resistance: Chloramphenicol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BioBrick K398018: BBa_J23100-BBa_J61101-ADH</td>
			<td>Delft University of Technology at the department of Biotechnology or Registry of Standard Biological Parts</td>
			<td><a href="http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K398018" target="_blank">BBa_K398018</a></td>
			<td>ADH generator 
			Resistance: Chloramphenicol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BioBrick K398030: BBa_R0040-BBa_B0034-ALDH</td>
			<td>Delft University of Technology at the department of Biotechnology or Registry of Standard Biological Parts</td>
			<td><a href="http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K398030" target="_blank">BBa_K398030</a></td>
			<td>ALDH generator 
			Resistance: Chloramphenicol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BioBrick K398326: pCaiF</td>
			<td>Delft University of Technology at the department of Biotechnology or Registry of Standard Biological Parts</td>
			<td><a href="http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K398326" target="_blank">BBa_K398326</a></td>
			<td>pCaiF promoter 
			Resistance: Chloramphenicol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BioBrick K398331: pCaiF-BBa_B0032-BBa_I13401</td>
			<td>Delft University of Technology at the department of Biotechnology or Registry of Standard Biological Parts</td>
			<td><a href="http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K398331" target="_blank">BBa_K398331</a></td>
			<td>pCaiF measurement device 
			Resistance: Chloramphenicol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BioBrick K398406: BBa_J23002-BBa_J61107-phPFD&alpha;-BBa_J61107-</td>
			<td>Delft University of Technology at the department of Biotechnology or Registry of Standard Biological Parts</td>
			<td><a href="http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K398406" target="_blank">BBa_K398406</a></td>
			<td>Solvent tolerance cluster 
			Resistance: Chloramphenicol</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a toolkit to enable hydrocarbon conversion in aqueous environments

This work puts forward a toolkit that enables the conversion of alkanes by Escherichia coli and presents a proof of principle of its applicability. The toolkit consists of multiple standard interchangeable parts (BioBricks)9 addressing the conversion of alkanes, regulation of gene expression and survival in toxic hydrocarbon-rich environments.
A three-step pathway for alkane degradation was implemented in E. coli to enable the conversion of medium- and long-chain alkanes to their respective alkanols, alkanals and ultimately alkanoic-acids. The latter were metabolized via the native &beta;-oxidation pathway. To facilitate the oxidation of medium-chain alkanes (C5-C13) and cycloalkanes (C5-C8), four genes (alkB2, rubA3, rubA4and rubB) of the alkane hydroxylase system from Gordonia sp. TF68,21 were transformed into E. coli. For the conversion of long-chain alkanes (C15-C36), theladA gene from Geobacillus thermodenitrificans was implemented. For the required further steps of the degradation process, ADH and ALDH (originating from G. thermodenitrificans) were introduced10,11. The activity was measured by resting cell assays. For each oxidative step, enzyme activity was observed.
To optimize the process efficiency, the expression was only induced under low glucose conditions: a substrate-regulated promoter, pCaiF, was used. pCaiF is present in E. coli K12 and regulates the expression of the genes involved in the degradation of non-glucose carbon sources.
The last part of the toolkit - targeting survival - was implemented using solvent tolerance genes, PhPFD&alpha; and &beta;, both from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3. Organic solvents can induce cell stress and decreased survivability by negatively affecting protein folding. As chaperones, PhPFD&alpha; and &beta; improve the protein folding process e.g. under the presence of alkanes. The expression of these genes led to an improved hydrocarbon tolerance shown by an increased growth rate (up to 50%) in the presences of 10% n-hexane in the culture medium were observed.
Summarizing, the results indicate that the toolkit enables E. coli to convert and tolerate hydrocarbons in aqueous environments. As such, it represents an initial step towards a sustainable solution for oil-remediation using a synthetic biology approach.

Alkane conversion
The activity of the three oxidation steps from the alkane to the respective fatty acid was evaluated using resting cell assays and enzyme activity measurements. The results are presented following the pathway reactions (1) alkane hydroxylase, (2) alcohol dehydrogenase and (3) aldehyde dehydrogenase. 
For the first step, different plasmids were constructed for medium and long-chain alkanes. The plasmid <a href="http://partsregistry.org/Part:BBa_K398014" target="_blank">BBa_...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Toolkit to Enable Hydrocarbon Conversion in Aqueous Environments at JoVE.com

A Toolkit to Enable Hydrocarbon Conversion in Aqueous Environments

A sustainable auto regulating bacterial system for the remediation of oil pollutions was designed using standard interchangeable DNA parts (BioBricks). An engineered E. coli strain was used to degrade alkanes via &beta;-oxidation in toxic aqueous environments. The respective enzymes from different species showed alkane degradation activity. Additionally, an increased tolerance to n-hexane was achieved by introducing genes from alkane-tolerant bacteria.

This work puts forward a toolkit that enables the conversion of alkanes by Escherichia coli and presents a proof of principle of its applicability. The ...

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