Lab — Bio Production (Beta‑Carotene & Lycopene)
Tip
In this two‑day lab, you’ll produce beta‑carotene and lycopene in E. coli and analyze growth (OD600) and pigment absorbance.
Objective
Work with E. coli carrying pAC‑LYC (lycopene) and pAC‑BETA (beta‑carotene) to optimize pigment production by tuning media, temperature, and carbon source.
Concepts You’ll Learn
- Fundamentals of bioproduction
- Tuning environmental factors to optimize production
- Measuring OD600 and absorbance spectra
- Handling cultures, plasmid systems, and acetone extraction
Key Plasmids
Workflow (2 Days)
- Day 1: Set up overnight cultures; vary LB vs 2YT, 37 °C vs 30 °C, and ± fructose.
- Day 2: Measure OD600; extract pigments with acetone; record absorbance spectra for lycopene vs β‑carotene.
