Funding: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) “On Implementation of Activity 1.1.1.2 “Post-doctoral Research Aid” of the Specific Aid Objective 1.1.1 “To increase the research and innovative capacity of scientific institutions of Latvia and the ability to attract external financing, investing in human resources and infrastructure” of the Operational Programme “Growth and Employment”
Project Title: Development of a bacterial microcompartment-based nanoreactor platform for metal-containing nanoparticle synthesis
Project No.: 1.1.1.2/VIAA/4/20/705
Period: 1 January 2021 – 30 June 2023
Project costs: 111 505.00 EUR
Project implementer: Ph.D. Gints Kalniņš
The aim of the project is to develop a bacterial microcompartment-based nanoreactor platform for metal-containing nanoparticle synthesis. Bacterial microcompartments are bacterial organelles consisting of a protein shell encapsulating enzymes performing concerted functions. The aim of this project is to redesign the shell of bacterial microcompartments for non-native enzyme and metal-reducing peptide encapsulation, and use it for metal-containing nanoparticle synthesis. Such a platform could have future aplications in such fields as nanotechnology, medicine or envirionmental engeneering. This project will consist of adaptation of bacterial microcompartment shell for encapsulation of enzymes and peptides necessary for metal containing nanoparticle synthesis; construction, production and purification of such nanoreactor candidates, testing of various nanoparticle synthesis conditions and characterization of the obtained newly synthesized products.
Information published 04.01.2021.
Project progress
1 January 2021 – 31 March 2021
Successfully performed negative staining transmission electronmicroscopy analysis of Klebsiella pneumoniae cell slices and confirmed observation of GRM2 bacterial microcompartment shell substructures. Started preliminary experiments for cryo-electrontomography analysis in cooperation with CEITEC institute. Performed cryo electronmicroscopy analysis of larger-sized GRM2 bacterial microcompartment particles. Started construction of expression vectors for production of bacterial microcompartment shells containing encapsulates enzymes and metal-reducing peptides.
Information published 31.03.2021.
Project progress
1 April 2021 – 30 June 2021
Published one publication in scientific journal about diversity of bacterial microcompartment shells. Presented popular scientific presentation about bacterial microcompartments during Researchers’ night. Continued work on construction of expression vectors for production of bacterial microcompartment shells containing encapsulates enzymes and metal-reducing peptides.
Information published 30.06.2021.
Project progress
1 July 2021 – 30 September 2021
Continued work on construction of expression vectors for production of bacterial microcompartment shells containing encapsulates enzymes and metal-reducing peptides. Started protein production testing experiments of the constructed expression vectors. Project results presented in Instruct-ERIC Webinar Series: Structure Meets Function, 12th webinar. https://instruct-eric.eu/content/instructeric-webinar-series-structure-meets-function.
Information published 30.09.2021.
Project progress
1 October 2021 – 31 December 2021
Started experiments with the aim to obtain and analyze hybrid GRM2 type particles with integrated BMC-T protein. Results presented in international scientific conference ” Instruct-ERIC Centre Finland Opening and Structural Biology Finland Conference 2021″ as a poster presentation “Modular assembly of hybrid GRM2 bacterial microcompartment shells. Started preliminary metalic nanoparticle synthesis experiments. Started transmission electron microscopy analysis of the nanoparticle synthesis reactions.
Information published 30.12.2021.
Project progress
1 January 2022 – 31 March 2022
Continuation of metal-containing nanoparticle synthesis experiments. Continuation of analysis of nanoparticle synthesis reactions with transmission electron microscopy. Continuation of hybrid BMC-T protein containing bacterial microcompartment particle synthesis experiments.
Information published 31.03.2022.
Project progress
1 April 2022 – 30 June 2022
Continuation of metal-containing nanoparticle synthesis experiments. Continuation of hybrid BMC-T protein containing bacterial microcompartment particle synthesis experiments. Project results presented in two international scientific conferences: Instruct-ERIC Biennial 2022 as a poster presentation “Plasticity of GRM2 type bacterial microcompartment shells” and FEBS3+ Tallinn conference as an oral presentation “Variety of GRM2 type bacterial microcompartment particles demonstrated by cryo-EM”.
Information published 30.06.2022.
Project progress
1 July 2022 – 30 September 2022
Continuation of metal-containing nanoparticle synthesis experiments. Continuation of hybrid BMC-T protein containing bacterial microcompartment particle synthesis experiments. Started mobility activities in Czechia, CEITEC instutute with the goal of collecting cryo-EM data and learning cryo-EM sample preparation, characterization and data processing.
Information published 30.09.2022.
Project progress
1 October 2022 – 31 December 2022
Continuation of hybrid BMC-T protein containing bacterial microcompartment particle synthesis experiments. Finished mobility activities in Czechia, CEITEC instutute with the goal of collecting cryo-EM data and learning cryo-EM sample preparation, characterization and data processing.
Information published 30.12.2022.
Project progress
1 January 2023 – 31 March 2023
Preparation of Latvian patent application and submission to Latvian patent office. Continuation of hybrid BMC-T protein containing bacterial microcompartment particle synthesis experiments. Preparation of a publication manuscript for submission in a journal.
Information published 31.03.2023.
Project progress
1 April 2023 – 30 June 2023
Extra hybrid BMC-T protein containing bacterial microcompartment particle synthesis experiments for publication purposes. Preparation of two publication manuscripts and their submission to scientific journals.
Information published 30.06.2023.