As a high school team attending iGEM for the first time, BJEA_China overcame an exceptionally challenging part of the project: experiment.Experiments require us to operate sophisticated instruments with special techniques, a high degree of proficiency, and a clear understanding of experiments' principles. Fortunately, we cooperated with university students from TJUSLS_China, who offered us technical supports for the experiment.
During the early stage of our project, PET films were in urgent demand; available PET films either were prohibitively expensive or had a long delivery time, but we lacked fund and time. Fortunately, through wikis of iGEM2020, we found that TJUSLS_China had done research topics related to PET plastic degradation, so we decided to contact them for assistance.
TJUSLS_China members turned out to be very enthusiastic and were interested in our project. They kindly offered us a sufficient amount of PET films and helped us to finish the trial expression of protein - a solid foundation on which we perform further experiments.
From July 25th to July 30th, we commenced the protein purification experiment at The School of Life Sciences of Tianjin University. On the first day of our arrival, we prepared 24 large Erlenmeyer flasks of LB solution preparing for the following experiments. The next day at 6:00 AM, we went to the laboratory to inject the bacteria into LB solutions in small test tubes. At noon, we transferred the LB solutions to the Erlenmeyer flasks we prepared yesterday. TJUSLS_China team taught us the operation of the high-temperature bacteria breaker, the process of centrifugation, the induction of protein, and the collection of the bacteria; We performed them the next day.
The next day, we did centrifugation and collection of bacteria, which we learned from TJUSLS_China yesterday, by ourselves. Later on, we learned the process of protein purification and we did it by ourselves along as TJUSLS_China was also doing this step. Specifically, we transfer between the 4℃ cold room and normal laboratory, which was about 30℃, and we needed to cooperation with another team member in our group tightly to make sure the result of protein purification.The experience of purifying protein was tough and difficult, but undoubtedly memorable and valuable. What was heartwarming was the thick coat that TJUSLS_China borrowed from the campus security guard center for us. We suddenly feel the warmness in that freezingroom, both on body and in heart.
The protein purification was highly challenging. Switching between a 4℃ cold room and the normal room, we closely cooperated as a team. The experience of purifying protein was difficult but undoubtedly memorable and valuable. Despite the cold, TJUSLS_China brought us coats from the campus guard; Their care warmed us both in heart and body.
On the fourth day, we ran the albumin glue to test our results. With the aid ofTJUSLS_China, we overcame several obstacles, and our experiment was successful.We achieved a higher efficiency of decomposing PET.
Throughout our partnership with TJUSLS_China, we realized the hardships researchers face in a project: tough environment, mental and physical ordeals, not to mention the risk that all past effort is ruined by even the slightest mistake. Only by persisting day after day can scientific research workers achieve results.
Not only our teacher, but TJUSLS_China, accompanied us, inspired us, and supported us during the whole experiment. Grateful for their aid, we wrote thanks cards for them and prepared many Erlenmeyers of LB solution for their further study. No word can fully express our gratitude toward TJUSLS_China. We sincerely wish both of us can dig deeper into our fields and make our world a better place.
