Purification of Microcystin-Binding proteins

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Understanding water chemistry in the field remains a major challenge in a variety of industries. There exists a lack of reliable and accurate field kit technology. This makes measurements difficult for operators for water utilities, mining companies, and well owners to make timely and informed decisions about water quality. FREDsense uses bacteria and electrochemistry to create easy-to-use and portable sensors for understanding water chemistry rapidly, and directly in the field. Their first product FRED-As can detect trace levels of arsenic in the field in less than an hour. FREDsense is currently looking to expand its suite of sensors for a variety of other contaminants. Some targets such as microcystin, a potent algal neurotoxin, are overly toxic to bacteria even at trace levels and cannot be used on the current platform. Therefore, FREDsense is looking to branch into in-vitro sensors to detect a wider variety of contaminants. In this project, FREDsense will work with Dr. Turner at the University of Calgary to optimize the purification of several microcystin-binding proteins and test the function of these proteins as sensors. These proteins are large in size, and somewhat difficult to purify. Initial attempts at purification and functional testing have not been successful. Dr. Turner's research team will use their expertise in protein biochemistry to test a variety of different media conditions, host strains and growth conditions to identify optimal expression and purification conditions. Once purified, proteins will be tested for microcystin detection using standard curve assays with the proprietary FREDsense electrochemical system. If protein activity is successful, protein production infrastructure will then be transferred to FREDsense for further characterization with the goal of eventually producing a low-cost sensor for microcystin in water. This would allow end users to detect harmful algal blooms faster and more economically.