This construct is optimized for E.coli BL21, it constitutes our “Plan A” for our psychobiotic, which consists of producing the soluble form gp130 attached to novel signal peptides, which will allow the secretion of the sgp130 to the extracellular media. In order for our construct to work the IL-6 will bind to its receptor also known as gp80, these dimer will then bind to the produced soluble sgp130 which will form a highly stable trimer that sequesters IL-6, effectively inhibiting IL-6 trans-signaling, the inflammatory signalization.

Both the IL-6 and the soluble form of the IL-6 receptor are present in the human body specifically in the gut, where our construct will work. In general, soluble receptors for several cytokines have been detected in different body fluids, these are believed to help modulate cytokine response by binding the ligand and thereby reducing its bioavailability. Since the of soluble gp130 can act as an antagonist vs the cells with membrane-bound receptor (IL-6R) [1] , the Plan A strategy was developed as a first approach towards developing our psychobiotic.

The system contains an inducible promoter that will be regulated by nitrosative stress. When this stress is present, the transcription of the soluble form of gp130 will be initiated. Additionally, a inducible pBad promoter will be activated with arabinose in order to control the production of NsrR, the protein that blocks the transcription of the Pyear promoter, these will be a form to control the amount of nitrosative stress needed for the Pyear activation. Reporter fluorescent proteins iLOV and M-Cherry will help us corroborate expression of both systems. iLOV will be attached to the Pbad-nsrR system and M-Cherry to the PyeaR-sgp130 system. The sgp30 have a His-Tag (6 histidines) attached to it for purification.

Composite part Plan B (E. coli BL21):

This construct is optimized for E.coli BL21, it constitutes our “Plan B” for our psychobiotic, which consists of producing a soluble, mutated, gp80 attached to novel signal peptides for secretion to the media from E. coli BL21. The production of the mutated alpha chain receptor for IL-6 (gp80) will act as an antagonist protein, due to mutations, it will associate with IL-6 forming the IL-6-alphaReceptorgp80 complex but it will not bind with human gp130, thus inhibiting the formation of IL-6-alphaReceptorgp80-gp130 complex which leads to inflammation pathways [1].

The system is first regulated by a Pbad promoter, which allows to induce expression with L-arabinose of the nsrR repressor protein (of PyeaR promoter) and then regulate the expression of mutated gp80 with the PyeaR promoter, after it senses nitrosative stress. Reporter fluorescent proteins iLOV and M-Cherry will help us corroborate expression of both promoter systems. iLOV will be attached to the Pbad-nsrR system and M-Cherry to the PyeaR-Mutatedgp80 system. The mutated gp80 has a His-Tag (6 histidines) attached to it for purification purposes. It is also attached to a signal peptide for excretion into the media.

References: [1] Müller-Newen, G., Küster, A., Hemmann, U., Keul,R., Horsten, U., Martens, A., Graeve, L., Wijdenes, J., Heinrich, P. (1998) Soluble IL-6 Receptor Potentiates the Antagonistic Activity of Soluble gp130 on IL-6 Responses. The Journal American of Association Immunology. ISSN: 1550-6606. [2] Han,S., Machhi, S., Berge,H., Xi, G., Linke, T., and Schoner, R. (2017). Novel signal peptides improve the secretion of recombinant Staphylococcus aureus Alpha toxinH35L in Escherichia coli. AMB Express. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-017-0394-1

The system is first regulated by a spaCBA promoter, which allows the expression of the nsrR repressor protein (of PyeaR promoter) and then the cassette regulates the expression of gp80 and gp130 with the PyeaR promoter, after it senses nitrosative stress. Reporter fluorescent proteins iLOV and M-Cherry will help corroborate expression of both systems. iLOV will be attached to the Pbad-nsrR system and M-Cherry to the PyeaR-gp80-gp130 system. Both glycoproteins (gp) have a His-Tag (6 histidines) attached to themselves for purification.

References: [1] Müller-Newen, G., Küster, A., Hemmann, U., Keul,R., Horsten, U., Martens, A., Graeve, L., Wijdenes, J., Heinrich, P. (1998) Soluble IL-6 Receptor Potentiates the Antagonistic Activity of Soluble gp130 on IL-6 Responses. The Journal American of Association Immunology. ISSN: 1550-6606. [2] Han,S., Machhi, S., Berge,H., Xi, G., Linke, T., and Schoner, R. (2017). Novel signal peptides improve the secretion of recombinant Staphylococcus aureus Alpha toxinH35L in Escherichia coli. AMB Express. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-017-0394-1

Composite part Plan B:

This is the same “Plan B” for E. coli but adapted to Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, since it is a natural probiotic organism. Plan B consists of producing a soluble, mutated, gp80 attached to SP1.Nsp4. The production of the mutated alpha chain receptor for IL-6 (gp80) will act as an antagonist protein, due to mutations, it will associate with IL-6 forming the IL-6-alphaReceptorgp80 complex but it will not bind with human gp130, thus inhibiting the formation of IL-6-alphaReceptorgp80-gp130 complex which leads to inflammation pathways [1]. The construct is codon optimized for L. rhamnosus GG, it has promoters, RBS and terminators that have been used before for L. rhamnosus. It also contains two restriction sites, between the iGEM prefix and suffix, to ligate the Lactobacillus ORI site.

The system is first regulated by a spaCBA promoter, which allows the expression of the nsrR repressor protein (of PyeaR promoter) and then the cassette regulates the expression of expression of mutated gp80 with the PyeaR promoter, after it senses nitrosative stress. Reporter fluorescent proteins iLOV and M-Cherry will help us corroborate expression of both promoter systems. iLOV will be attached to the Pbad-nsrR system and M-Cherry to the PyeaR-Mutatedgp80 system. The mutated gp80 has a His-Tag (6 histidines) attached to it for purification purposes. It is also attached to a signal peptide for excretion into the media.

References: [1] Müller-Newen, G., Küster, A., Hemmann, U., Keul,R., Horsten, U., Martens, A., Graeve, L., Wijdenes, J., Heinrich, P. (1998) Soluble IL-6 Receptor Potentiates the Antagonistic Activity of Soluble gp130 on IL-6 Responses. The Journal American of Association Immunology. ISSN: 1550-6606. [2] Han,S., Machhi, S., Berge,H., Xi, G., Linke, T., and Schoner, R. (2017). Novel signal peptides improve the secretion of recombinant Staphylococcus aureus Alpha toxinH35L in Escherichia coli. AMB Express. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-017-0394-1

Construct for SP1-Nsp4 characterization in E. coli.

This construct is meant to be used in characterizations of the signal peptide SP1-Nsp4, it should be excreted into the media by the Sec-dependent (Sec) secretion pathway, the general secretion E. coli route. When this signal peptides are linked to the N-terminus of recombinant proteins, they are critical for translocation and secretion of proteins [1].

This plasmid expression vector has a T7 promoter (BBa_I712074) which will be induced by IPTG, it contains a specific strong RBS for E. coli, the signal peptide SP1-Nsp4, iLOV (BBa_K660004) as the fluorescent with a His-Tag (6 histidines) attached to it; finally an E. coli specific terminator (BBa_I712074).

References: [1] Han, S., Machhi, S., Berge, M., Xi, G., Linke, T., & Schoner, R. (2017). Novel signal peptides improve the secretion of recombinant Staphylococcus aureus Alpha toxinH35L in Escherichia coli. AMB Express, 7, 93. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-017-0394-1

Construct for SP2-Nsp2 characterization in E. coli.

This construct is meant to be used in characterizations of the signal peptide SP2-Nsp2, obtained from the same study as the SP1-Nsp4 signal peptide, this causes the attached protein to be excreted into the media by the Sec-dependent (Sec) secretion pathway, the general secretion E. coli route. When this signal peptides are linked to the N-terminus of recombinant proteins, they are critical for translocation and secretion of proteins [1].

This plasmid expression vector has a T7 promoter (BBa_I712074) which will be induced by IPTG, it contains a specific strong RBS for E. coli, the signal peptide SP2-Nsp2, iLOV (BBa_K660004) as the fluorescent with a His-Tag (6 histidines) attached to it; finally an E. coli specific terminator (BBa_I712074).

References: [1] Han, S., Machhi, S., Berge, M., Xi, G., Linke, T., & Schoner, R. (2017). Novel signal peptides improve the secretion of recombinant Staphylococcus aureus Alpha toxinH35L in Escherichia coli. AMB Express, 7, 93. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-017-0394-1

SP (signal peptide) negative control characterization construct (E.coli)

This construct is meant to be used as a negative control in characterizations of the signal peptides SP1-Nsp4 and SP2-Nsp2, it lacks signal peptides but is composed from the same elements as the previous constructs.

This plasmid expression vector has a T7 promoter (BBa_I712074) which will be induced by IPTG, it contains a specific strong RBS for E. coli, iLOV (BBa_K660004) as the fluorescent reporter with a His-Tag (6 histidines) attached to it; finally an E. coli specific terminator (BBa_I712074).

References: [1] Han, S., Machhi, S., Berge, M., Xi, G., Linke, T., & Schoner, R. (2017). Novel signal peptides improve the secretion of recombinant Staphylococcus aureus Alpha toxinH35L in Escherichia coli. AMB Express, 7, 93. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-017-0394-1

SP (signal peptide) positive control characterization construct (E. coli)

This construct is meant to be used as a positive control in characterizations of the signal peptides SP1-Nsp4 and SP2-Nsp2, it contains the DsbAss signal peptide but the other elements remain the same from the previous constructs.

This plasmid expression vector has a T7 promoter (BBa_I712074) which will be induced by IPTG, it contains a specific strong RBS for E. coli, DsbAss signal peptide, iLOV (BBa_K660004) as the fluorescent reporter with a His-Tag (6 histidines) attached to it; finally an E. coli specific terminator (BBa_I712074).

References: [1] Han, S., Machhi, S., Berge, M., Xi, G., Linke, T., & Schoner, R. (2017). Novel signal peptides improve the secretion of recombinant Staphylococcus aureus Alpha toxinH35L in Escherichia coli. AMB Express, 7, 93. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-017-0394-1

For L. rhamnosus

These series of constructs were codon optimized for L. rhamnosus as a way to test whether this signal peptides for secretion that work on E. coli, via the Sec secretion pathway and SRP pathway. They are expression plasmids that contain L. rhamnosus spaCBA promoter, RBS and loop terminator, they also contain HindIII restriction site between the iGEM prefix and SacI restriction to join with the Lactobacillus ORI, and fluorescent reporter M-cherry.

Construct for SP1-Nsp4 characterization in L. rhamnosus

This construct is meant to be used in characterizations of the signal peptide SP1-Nsp4 in L. rhamnosus, which would be excreted into the media by the Sec-dependent (Sec) secretion pathway, the general secretion E. coli route. When this signal peptides are linked to the N-terminus of recombinant proteins, they are critical for translocation and secretion of proteins in E. coli [1].

This plasmid expression vector has a spaCBA promoter, it contains a specific RBS for L. rhamnosus GG, the signal peptide SP1-Nsp4, M-cherry (BBa_J18932) as the fluorescent reporter with a His-Tag (6 histidines) attached to it; and the terminator 667.

References: [1] Han, S., Machhi, S., Berge, M., Xi, G., Linke, T., & Schoner, R. (2017). Novel signal peptides improve the secretion of recombinant Staphylococcus aureus Alpha toxinH35L in Escherichia coli. AMB Express, 7, 93. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-017-0394-1

Construct for SP2-Nsp2 characterization in L. rhamnosus

This construct is meant to be used in characterizations of the signal peptide SP2-Nsp2 in E. coli, which would be excreted into the media by the Sec-dependent (Sec) secretion pathway, the general secretion E. coli route. When this signal peptides are linked to the N-terminus of recombinant proteins, they are critical for translocation and secretion of proteins in E. coli [1].

This plasmid expression vector has a spaCBA promoter, it contains a specific RBS for L. rhamnosus GG, the signal peptide SP2-Nsp2, M-cherry (BBa_J18932) as the fluorescent reporter with a His-Tag (6 histidines) attached to it; and the terminator 667.

References: [1] Han, S., Machhi, S., Berge, M., Xi, G., Linke, T., & Schoner, R. (2017). Novel signal peptides improve the secretion of recombinant Staphylococcus aureus Alpha toxinH35L in Escherichia coli. AMB Express, 7, 93. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-017-0394-1

SP (signal peptide) negative control characterization construct in L. rhamnosus

This construct is meant to be used in characterizations of the signal peptide SP2-Nsp2 in E. coli, which would be excreted into the media by the Sec-dependent (Sec) secretion pathway, the general secretion E. coli route. When this signal peptides are linked to the N-terminus of recombinant proteins, they are critical for translocation and secretion of proteins in E. coli [1].

This plasmid expression vector has a spaCBA promoter, it contains a specific RBS for L. rhamnosus GG, the signal peptide SP2-Nsp2, M-cherry (BBa_J18932) as the fluorescent reporter with a His-Tag (6 histidines) attached to it; and the terminator 667.

References: [1] Han, S., Machhi, S., Berge, M., Xi, G., Linke, T., & Schoner, R. (2017). Novel signal peptides improve the secretion of recombinant Staphylococcus aureus Alpha toxinH35L in Escherichia coli. AMB Express, 7, 93. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-017-0394-1

SP (signal peptide) negative control characterization construct in L. rhamnosus

This construct is meant to be used in characterizations of the signal peptide SP2-Nsp2 in E. coli, which would be excreted into the media by the Sec-dependent (Sec) secretion pathway, the general secretion E. coli route. When this signal peptides are linked to the N-terminus of recombinant proteins, they are critical for translocation and secretion of proteins in E. coli [1].

This plasmid expression vector has a spaCBA promoter, it contains a specific RBS for L. rhamnosus GG, the signal peptide SP2-Nsp2, M-cherry (BBa_J18932) as the fluorescent reporter with a His-Tag (6 histidines) attached to it; and the terminator 667.

References: [1] Han, S., Machhi, S., Berge, M., Xi, G., Linke, T., & Schoner, R. (2017). Novel signal peptides improve the secretion of recombinant Staphylococcus aureus Alpha toxinH35L in Escherichia coli. AMB Express, 7, 93. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-017-0394-1

SP (signal peptide) negative control characterization construct in L. rhamnosus

This construct is meant to be used as a negative control in characterizations of the signal peptides SP1-Nsp4 and SP2-Nsp2 in L. rhamnosus, it lacks signal peptides but is composed from the same elements as the previous constructs.

This plasmid expression vector has a spaCBA promoter, it contains a specific RBS for L. rhamnosus GG, M-cherry (BBa_J18932) as the fluorescent reporter with a His-Tag (6 histidines) attached to it; and the terminator 667. It also contains restriction sites to ligate with the Lactobacillus ORI.

References: [1] Han, S., Machhi, S., Berge, M., Xi, G., Linke, T., & Schoner, R. (2017). Novel signal peptides improve the secretion of recombinant Staphylococcus aureus Alpha toxinH35L in Escherichia coli. AMB Express, 7, 93. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-017-0394-1