Alright, first of all a bacteria cell has a circular genome. So its DNA looks like a circular zipper (two sides, complementary). I needed to manipulate the bacteria cell so that its genome contains a (DMSO reductase) gene, aka a piece of DNA, that I want it to translate into a specific protein (DMSO reductase). (Because that's what DNA does --> is read like directions on how to assemble proteins=cellular machinery) This process is so much more complicated than that and has already taken a couple weeks and is still happening now. Next week I may finally have bacteria that contain "foreign" DNA! This means that I'll be able to grow up the bacteria, let them produce all my protein for me and then blow them up and extract that specific one out. This protein is supposed to be the one that is important for haemophilus influenzae infection ability.
At the same time I've also been doing h. influenzae growths. (This is the bacteria that gives ear infections, among other things.) I have been growing up two strains, in various conditions, then I basically spun the cells at 45,000 rpm to separate out the different layers. This gives me a cell membrane extract, a periplasmic (inside cell part) extract, etc. in which I can test for activity in each section. I can add a certain chemical, such as DMSO, and see if that extract contains a protein that converts it to something else. (That something else triggers a reaction that I am able to monitor.)
Ok so if you're confused that's fine. If not, then yay :) glad you have a tiny idea about what I'm doing.
Oh, I get it! *is lost*
ReplyDeleteActually I understood some of that. But why would you put Mexican DNA in DNA that works perfectly fine already? Oh, "let them produce all my protein" You just wanna use em for labor!