by: Nina Toole

This semester, students in the Biotechnology Applications class are diving deep into the fascinating world of molecular biology through hands-on experiments that teach essential lab skills used in scientific research and drug discovery. Our recent experiment, involving bacterial lysis and mini-prep culturing, allowed us to understand how scientists isolate and study proteins and plasmids, which are essential for developing new medicines and therapies. 

Bacterial Lysis: Breaking Open the Cell 

In the first phase of our experiment, we used a process called bacterial lysis to break open bacterial cells and access their internal proteins. This step is critical in drug discovery because it allows us to isolate the proteins of interest (POI) that might serve as targets for new drugs. We added an enzyme called lysozyme to degrade the bacterial cell walls and used freezing to help rupture the cells even further. After centrifuging, the heavier cellular debris formed a pellet at the bottom of the tube, and the POI remained in the liquid supernatant. 

Mini-Prep Culturing: Isolating Plasmids 

Once we isolated the proteins, our next task was to prepare the bacteria for plasmid removal through mini-prepping. This step is essential for obtaining clean plasmid DNA, which can be further studied or modified. Plating the bacteria ensured we had a consistent bacterial colony to work with, while the mini-prep allowed us to isolate plasmid DNA for further experiments, including sequencing and analysis. 

Connecting to the Biotechnology Industry 

We also explored how companies like Plasmidsaurus offer whole plasmid sequencing services, which are essential in biotechnology research. With fast turnaround times and affordable costs, such services make it possible for scientists to ensure the accuracy of the plasmids they are working with. 

Why This Matters? 

Understanding the steps involved in bacterial lysis and plasmid isolation helps students appreciate how the small details in scientific research can lead to groundbreaking discoveries in healthcare. From curing diseases to developing new drugs, biotechnology plays a crucial role in improving our world, and these hands-on experiences give us a real-world look into how that happens.