Gamma and Beta Radiation Effects on pGlo DNA Plasmids
Mentor 1
Carol Hirschmugl
Location
Union 250
Start Date
5-4-2019 1:20 PM
Description
UW-Milwaukee’s RockSat-C experiment exposing plasmid to radiation during outer space flight in 2017 showed in preliminary results, that transformation rates of E. coli by pGLO DNA plasmids increased with increasing exposure to gamma and beta radiation. If the structure of DNA plasmid is altered by radiation, then bacterial transformation rates by DNA plasmids could also be affected. Effects of gamma and beta radiation on bacterial transformation rates may be seen through changes in plasmid structure and conformation. Following the 2017 results, the team hypothesized that the radiation exposure changed the structure of the DNA pGLO plasmid, allowing it to transfer to the E. coli more easily. In this literature review we will review DNA plasmids’ topology and plasmid conformation, and for experimental analysis we will use Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy “fingerprints” to potentially explain changes transformation rates, and the maximum amount of radiation a DNA plasmid can withstand. By using FTIR spectroscopy we will compare the fingerprints of the plasmid conformations of B-DNA: supercoiled, closed circular, and linear to the fingerprints of the pGLO DNA DNA plasmids. The experiment group will consist of the unshielded group - B-DNA DNA plasmids exposed to gamma and beta radiation during RockSat-C sounding rocket launch, the shielded group - B-DNA DNA plasmids exposed to gamma radiation only, and the control group - B-DNA DNA plasmids not exposed to either gamma or beta radiation. Through the comparison of fingerprints, the effects of gamma and beta radiation can clearly be seen to affect the chemical compounds of the pGLO DNA plasmids.
Keywords: DNA DNA plasmids, irradiation, topology, FTIR Spectroscopy, FTIR fingerprints, B-DNA
Gamma and Beta Radiation Effects on pGlo DNA Plasmids
Union 250
UW-Milwaukee’s RockSat-C experiment exposing plasmid to radiation during outer space flight in 2017 showed in preliminary results, that transformation rates of E. coli by pGLO DNA plasmids increased with increasing exposure to gamma and beta radiation. If the structure of DNA plasmid is altered by radiation, then bacterial transformation rates by DNA plasmids could also be affected. Effects of gamma and beta radiation on bacterial transformation rates may be seen through changes in plasmid structure and conformation. Following the 2017 results, the team hypothesized that the radiation exposure changed the structure of the DNA pGLO plasmid, allowing it to transfer to the E. coli more easily. In this literature review we will review DNA plasmids’ topology and plasmid conformation, and for experimental analysis we will use Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy “fingerprints” to potentially explain changes transformation rates, and the maximum amount of radiation a DNA plasmid can withstand. By using FTIR spectroscopy we will compare the fingerprints of the plasmid conformations of B-DNA: supercoiled, closed circular, and linear to the fingerprints of the pGLO DNA DNA plasmids. The experiment group will consist of the unshielded group - B-DNA DNA plasmids exposed to gamma and beta radiation during RockSat-C sounding rocket launch, the shielded group - B-DNA DNA plasmids exposed to gamma radiation only, and the control group - B-DNA DNA plasmids not exposed to either gamma or beta radiation. Through the comparison of fingerprints, the effects of gamma and beta radiation can clearly be seen to affect the chemical compounds of the pGLO DNA plasmids.
Keywords: DNA DNA plasmids, irradiation, topology, FTIR Spectroscopy, FTIR fingerprints, B-DNA
