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Gao T, Niu L, Wu X, Dai D, Zhou Y, Liu M, Wu K, Yu Y, Guan N, Ye H. Sonogenetics-controlled synthetic designer cells for cancer therapy in tumor mouse models. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101513. [PMID: 38608697 PMCID: PMC11148564 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria-based therapies are powerful strategies for cancer therapy, yet their clinical application is limited by a lack of tunable genetic switches to safely regulate the local expression and release of therapeutic cargoes. Rapid advances in remote-control technologies have enabled precise control of biological processes in time and space. We developed therapeutically active engineered bacteria mediated by a sono-activatable integrated gene circuit based on the thermosensitive transcriptional repressor TlpA39. Through promoter engineering and ribosome binding site screening, we achieved ultrasound (US)-induced protein expression and secretion in engineered bacteria with minimal noise and high induction efficiency. Specifically, delivered either intratumorally or intravenously, engineered bacteria colonizing tumors suppressed tumor growth through US-irradiation-induced release of the apoptotic protein azurin and an immune checkpoint inhibitor, a nanobody targeting programmed death-ligand 1, in different tumor mouse models. Beyond developing safe and high-performance designer bacteria for tumor therapy, our study illustrates a sonogenetics-controlled therapeutic platform that can be harnessed for bacteria-based precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Gao
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Lingxue Niu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xin Wu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China; The Radiology Department of Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, The Fifth Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Di Dai
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China; Wuhu Hospital, Health Science Center, East China Normal University, Middle Jiuhua Road 263, Wuhu City, China
| | - Mengyao Liu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Ke Wu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yuanhuan Yu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Ningzi Guan
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China.
| | - Haifeng Ye
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China; Wuhu Hospital, Health Science Center, East China Normal University, Middle Jiuhua Road 263, Wuhu City, China.
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2
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Zhao F, Niman CM, Ostovar G, Chavez MS, Atkinson JT, Bonis BM, Gralnick JA, El-Naggar MY, Boedicker JQ. Red-Light-Induced Genetic System for Control of Extracellular Electron Transfer. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:1467-1476. [PMID: 38696739 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Optogenetics is a powerful tool for spatiotemporal control of gene expression. Several light-inducible gene regulators have been developed to function in bacteria, and these regulatory circuits have been ported to new host strains. Here, we developed and adapted a red-light-inducible transcription factor for Shewanella oneidensis. This regulatory circuit is based on the iLight optogenetic system, which controls gene expression using red light. A thermodynamic model and promoter engineering were used to adapt this system to achieve differential gene expression in light and dark conditions within a S. oneidensis host strain. We further improved the iLight optogenetic system by adding a repressor to invert the genetic circuit and activate gene expression under red light illumination. The inverted iLight genetic circuit was used to control extracellular electron transfer within S. oneidensis. The ability to use both red- and blue-light-induced optogenetic circuits simultaneously was also demonstrated. Our work expands the synthetic biology capabilities in S. oneidensis, which could facilitate future advances in applications with electrogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengjie Zhao
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Christina M Niman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Ghazaleh Ostovar
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Marko S Chavez
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Joshua T Atkinson
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, United States
- Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, United States
| | - Benjamin M Bonis
- BioTechnology Institute and Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota─Twin Cities, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
| | - Jeffrey A Gralnick
- BioTechnology Institute and Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota─Twin Cities, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
| | - Mohamed Y El-Naggar
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - James Q Boedicker
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
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3
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Elahi Y, Baker MAB. Light Control in Microbial Systems. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4001. [PMID: 38612810 PMCID: PMC11011852 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25074001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Light is a key environmental component influencing many biological processes, particularly in prokaryotes such as archaea and bacteria. Light control techniques have revolutionized precise manipulation at molecular and cellular levels in recent years. Bacteria, with adaptability and genetic tractability, are promising candidates for light control studies. This review investigates the mechanisms underlying light activation in bacteria and discusses recent advancements focusing on light control methods and techniques for controlling bacteria. We delve into the mechanisms by which bacteria sense and transduce light signals, including engineered photoreceptors and light-sensitive actuators, and various strategies employed to modulate gene expression, protein function, and bacterial motility. Furthermore, we highlight recent developments in light-integrated methods of controlling microbial responses, such as upconversion nanoparticles and optical tweezers, which can enhance the spatial and temporal control of bacteria and open new horizons for biomedical applications.
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4
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Buson F, Gao Y, Wang B. Genetic Parts and Enabling Tools for Biocircuit Design. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:697-713. [PMID: 38427821 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic biology aims to engineer biological systems for customized tasks through the bottom-up assembly of fundamental building blocks, which requires high-quality libraries of reliable, modular, and standardized genetic parts. To establish sets of parts that work well together, synthetic biologists created standardized part libraries in which every component is analyzed in the same metrics and context. Here we present a state-of-the-art review of the currently available part libraries for designing biocircuits and their gene expression regulation paradigms at transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels in Escherichia coli. We discuss the necessary facets to integrate these parts into complex devices and systems along with the current efforts to catalogue and standardize measurement data. To better display the range of available parts and to facilitate part selection in synthetic biology workflows, we established biopartsDB, a curated database of well-characterized and useful genetic part and device libraries with detailed quantitative data validated by the published literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Buson
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering & ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FF, U.K
| | - Yuanli Gao
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering & ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FF, U.K
| | - Baojun Wang
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering & ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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5
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A red light-controlled probiotic bio-system for in-situ gut-brain axis regulation. Biomaterials 2023; 294:122005. [PMID: 36701997 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Microbes regulate brain function through the gut-brain axis, deriving the technology to modulate the gut-brain axis in situ by engineered probiotics. Optogenetics offers precise and flexible strategies for controlling the functions of probiotics in situ. However, the poor penetration of most frequently used short wavelength light has limited the application of optogenetic probiotics in the gut. Herein, a red-light optogenetic gut probiotic was applied for drug production and delivery and regulation of the host behaviors. Firstly, a Red-light Optogenetic E. coli Nissle 1917 strain (ROEN) that could respond to red light and release drug product by light-controlled lysis was constructed. The remaining optical power of red light after 3 cm tissue was still able to initiate gene expression of ROEN and produce about approximately 3-fold induction efficiency. To give full play to the in vivo potential of ROEN, its responsive ability of the penetrated red light was tested, and its encapsulation was realized by PH-sensitive alginate microcapsules for further oral administration. The function of ROEN for gut-brain regulation was realized by releasing Exendin-4 fused with anti-neonatal Fc receptor affibody. Neuroprotection and behavioral regulation effects were evaluated in the Parkinson's disease mouse model, after orally administration of ROEN delivering Exendin-4 under optogenetic control in the murine gut. The red-light optogenetic probiotic might be a perspective platform for in situ drug delivery and gut-brain axis regulation.
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6
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Multamäki E, García de Fuentes A, Sieryi O, Bykov A, Gerken U, Ranzani A, Köhler J, Meglinski I, Möglich A, Takala H. Optogenetic Control of Bacterial Expression by Red Light. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:3354-3367. [PMID: 35998606 PMCID: PMC9594775 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
In optogenetics, as in nature, sensory photoreceptors serve to control cellular processes by light. Bacteriophytochrome (BphP) photoreceptors sense red and far-red light via a biliverdin chromophore and, in response, cycle between the spectroscopically, structurally, and functionally distinct Pr and Pfr states. BphPs commonly belong to two-component systems that control the phosphorylation of cognate response regulators and downstream gene expression through histidine kinase modules. We recently demonstrated that the paradigm BphP from Deinococcus radiodurans exclusively acts as a phosphatase but that its photosensory module can control the histidine kinase activity of homologous receptors. Here, we apply this insight to reprogram two widely used setups for bacterial gene expression from blue-light to red-light control. The resultant pREDusk and pREDawn systems allow gene expression to be regulated down and up, respectively, uniformly under red light by 100-fold or more. Both setups are realized as portable, single plasmids that encode all necessary components including the biliverdin-producing machinery. The triggering by red light affords high spatial resolution down to the single-cell level. As pREDusk and pREDawn respond sensitively to red light, they support multiplexing with optogenetic systems sensitive to other light colors. Owing to the superior tissue penetration of red light, the pREDawn system can be triggered at therapeutically safe light intensities through material layers, replicating the optical properties of the skin and skull. Given these advantages, pREDusk and pREDawn enable red-light-regulated expression for diverse use cases in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina Multamäki
- Department
of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | | | - Oleksii Sieryi
- Optoelectronics
and Measurement Techniques, University of
Oulu, Oulu 90014, Finland
| | - Alexander Bykov
- Optoelectronics
and Measurement Techniques, University of
Oulu, Oulu 90014, Finland
| | - Uwe Gerken
- Lehrstuhl
für Spektroskopie weicher Materie, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
| | | | - Jürgen Köhler
- Lehrstuhl
für Spektroskopie weicher Materie, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
| | - Igor Meglinski
- Optoelectronics
and Measurement Techniques, University of
Oulu, Oulu 90014, Finland,College
of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston
University, Birmingham B4 7ET, U.K.
| | - Andreas Möglich
- Lehrstuhl
für Biochemie, Photobiochemie, Universität
Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447, Germany,. Phone: +49 921 55
7835
| | - Heikki Takala
- Department
of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland,Department
of Biological and Environmental Science, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla 40014, Finland,. Phone: +358 46 923 6211
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7
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Ohlendorf R, Möglich A. Light-regulated gene expression in Bacteria: Fundamentals, advances, and perspectives. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1029403. [PMID: 36312534 PMCID: PMC9614035 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1029403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous photoreceptors and genetic circuits emerged over the past two decades and now enable the light-dependent i.e., optogenetic, regulation of gene expression in bacteria. Prompted by light cues in the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, gene expression can be up- or downregulated stringently, reversibly, non-invasively, and with precision in space and time. Here, we survey the underlying principles, available options, and prominent examples of optogenetically regulated gene expression in bacteria. While transcription initiation and elongation remain most important for optogenetic intervention, other processes e.g., translation and downstream events, were also rendered light-dependent. The optogenetic control of bacterial expression predominantly employs but three fundamental strategies: light-sensitive two-component systems, oligomerization reactions, and second-messenger signaling. Certain optogenetic circuits moved beyond the proof-of-principle and stood the test of practice. They enable unprecedented applications in three major areas. First, light-dependent expression underpins novel concepts and strategies for enhanced yields in microbial production processes. Second, light-responsive bacteria can be optogenetically stimulated while residing within the bodies of animals, thus prompting the secretion of compounds that grant health benefits to the animal host. Third, optogenetics allows the generation of precisely structured, novel biomaterials. These applications jointly testify to the maturity of the optogenetic approach and serve as blueprints bound to inspire and template innovative use cases of light-regulated gene expression in bacteria. Researchers pursuing these lines can choose from an ever-growing, versatile, and efficient toolkit of optogenetic circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Ohlendorf
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Andreas Möglich
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- Bayreuth Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- North-Bavarian NMR Center, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- *Correspondence: Andreas Möglich,
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8
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Robinson CM, Short NE, Riglar DT. Achieving spatially precise diagnosis and therapy in the mammalian gut using synthetic microbial gene circuits. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:959441. [PMID: 36118573 PMCID: PMC9478464 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.959441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian gut and its microbiome form a temporally dynamic and spatially heterogeneous environment. The inaccessibility of the gut and the spatially restricted nature of many gut diseases translate into difficulties in diagnosis and therapy for which novel tools are needed. Engineered bacterial whole-cell biosensors and therapeutics have shown early promise at addressing these challenges. Natural and engineered sensing systems can be repurposed in synthetic genetic circuits to detect spatially specific biomarkers during health and disease. Heat, light, and magnetic signals can also activate gene circuit function with externally directed spatial precision. The resulting engineered bacteria can report on conditions in situ within the complex gut environment or produce biotherapeutics that specifically target host or microbiome activity. Here, we review the current approaches to engineering spatial precision for in vivo bacterial diagnostics and therapeutics using synthetic circuits, and the challenges and opportunities this technology presents.
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9
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Liu C, Yu H, Zhang B, Liu S, Liu CG, Li F, Song H. Engineering whole-cell microbial biosensors: Design principles and applications in monitoring and treatment of heavy metals and organic pollutants. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 60:108019. [PMID: 35853551 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.108019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Biosensors have been widely used as cost-effective, rapid, in situ, and real-time analytical tools for monitoring environments. The development of synthetic biology has enabled emergence of genetically engineered whole-cell microbial biosensors. This review updates the design and optimization principles for a diverse array of whole-cell biosensors based on transcription factors (TF) including activators or repressors derived from heavy metal resistance systems, alkanes, and aromatics metabolic pathways of bacteria. By designing genetic circuits, the whole-cell biosensors could be engineered to intelligently sense heavy metals (Hg2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Au3+, Cd2+, As3+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and UO22+) or organic compounds (alcohols, alkanes, phenols, and benzenes) through one-component or two-component system-based TFs, transduce signals through genetic amplifiers, and response as various outputs such as cell fluorescence and bioelectricity for monitoring heavy metals and organic pollutants in real conditions, synthetic curli and surface metal-binding peptides for in situ bio-sorption of heavy metals. We further review strategies that have been implemented to optimize the selectivity and correlation between ligand concentration and output signal of the TF-based biosensors, so as to meet requirements of practical applications. The optimization strategies include protein engineering to change specificities, promoter engineering to improve sensitivities, and genetic circuit-based amplification to enhance dynamic ranges via designing transcriptional amplifiers, logic gates, and feedback loops. At last, we outlook future trends in developing novel forms of biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changjiang Liu
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Huan Yu
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Baocai Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Shilin Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Chen-Guang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Feng Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| | - Hao Song
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
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10
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Li Y, Zhao M, Wei D, Zhang J, Ren Y. Photocontrol of Itaconic Acid Synthesis in Escherichia coli. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:2080-2088. [PMID: 35638258 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic engineering aims to control cellular metabolic flow and maximize the production of a product of interest. Photocontrol of the activities of proteins is an effective method for accurately regulating metabolic pathways. In this study, we inserted the photosensor light-oxygen-voltage-sensing domain 2 of Avena sativa (AsLOV2) into selected sites of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), the key enzyme in the competitive pathway of itaconic acid (ITA) synthesis, to construct photoswitchable IDH-AsLOV2 (ILOVs). These engineered light-sensitive proteins were used to regulate the metabolic flux of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in Escherichia coli to improve ITA production. The engineered fusion proteins ILOV2, ILOV3, ILOV6, and ILOV7 exhibited effective reversibility under the oscillation of darkness and blue light illumination in vitro. The efficacies of the intracellular photoswitches were evaluated, and an optimal photocontrol strategy was established in vivo. The ITA titer was significantly enhanced to 3.30 g/L for strain ITAΔ43, which displayed superior photoswitchable potency for ITA production compared with the strains that completely deleted the icd gene. The photocontrol strategy developed here can be extended for process optimization and titer improvement of other high-value bioengineering chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Li
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Ming Zhao
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Microbiology Molecular Breeding, College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yuhong Ren
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
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11
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Optogenetic tools for microbial synthetic biology. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 59:107953. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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12
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Hoffman SM, Tang AY, Avalos JL. Optogenetics Illuminates Applications in Microbial Engineering. Annu Rev Chem Biomol Eng 2022; 13:373-403. [PMID: 35320696 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-092120-092340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetics has been used in a variety of microbial engineering applications, such as chemical and protein production, studies of cell physiology, and engineered microbe-host interactions. These diverse applications benefit from the precise spatiotemporal control that light affords, as well as its tunability, reversibility, and orthogonality. This combination of unique capabilities has enabled a surge of studies in recent years investigating complex biological systems with completely new approaches. We briefly describe the optogenetic tools that have been developed for microbial engineering, emphasizing the scientific advancements that they have enabled. In particular, we focus on the unique benefits and applications of implementing optogenetic control, from bacterial therapeutics to cybergenetics. Finally, we discuss future research directions, with special attention given to the development of orthogonal multichromatic controls. With an abundance of advantages offered by optogenetics, the future is bright in microbial engineering. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Volume 13 is October 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M Hoffman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA; , ,
| | - Allison Y Tang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA; , ,
| | - José L Avalos
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA; , , .,The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Department of Molecular Biology, and High Meadows Environmental Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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13
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Ronda C, Wang HH. Engineering temporal dynamics in microbial communities. Curr Opin Microbiol 2022; 65:47-55. [PMID: 34739926 PMCID: PMC10659046 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Microbial communities are a key part to tackling global challenges in human health, environmental conservation, and sustainable agriculture in the coming decade. Recent advances in synthetic biology to study and modify microbial communities have led to important insights into their physiology and ecology. Understanding how targeted changes to microbial communities result in reproducible alterations of the community's intrinsic fluctuations and function is important for mechanistic reconstruction of microbiomes. Studies of synthetic microbial consortia and comparative analysis of communities in normal and disrupted states have revealed ecological principles that can be leveraged to engineer communities towards desired functions. Tools enabling temporal modulation and sensing of the community dynamics offer precise spatiotemporal control of functions, help to dissect microbial interaction networks, and improve predictions of population temporal dynamics. Here we discuss recent advances to manipulate microbiome dynamics through control of specific strain engraftment and abundance, modulation of cell-cell signaling for tuning population dynamics, infiltration of new functions in the existing community with in situ engineering, and in silico modeling of microbial consortia to predict community function and ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Ronda
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Harris H Wang
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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14
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Tang K, Beyer HM, Zurbriggen MD, Gärtner W. The Red Edge: Bilin-Binding Photoreceptors as Optogenetic Tools and Fluorescence Reporters. Chem Rev 2021; 121:14906-14956. [PMID: 34669383 PMCID: PMC8707292 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This review adds the bilin-binding phytochromes to the Chemical Reviews thematic issue "Optogenetics and Photopharmacology". The work is structured into two parts. We first outline the photochemistry of the covalently bound tetrapyrrole chromophore and summarize relevant spectroscopic, kinetic, biochemical, and physiological properties of the different families of phytochromes. Based on this knowledge, we then describe the engineering of phytochromes to further improve these chromoproteins as photoswitches and review their employment in an ever-growing number of different optogenetic applications. Most applications rely on the light-controlled complex formation between the plant photoreceptor PhyB and phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs) or C-terminal light-regulated domains with enzymatic functions present in many bacterial and algal phytochromes. Phytochrome-based optogenetic tools are currently implemented in bacteria, yeast, plants, and animals to achieve light control of a wide range of biological activities. These cover the regulation of gene expression, protein transport into cell organelles, and the recruitment of phytochrome- or PIF-tagged proteins to membranes and other cellular compartments. This compilation illustrates the intrinsic advantages of phytochromes compared to other photoreceptor classes, e.g., their bidirectional dual-wavelength control enabling instant ON and OFF regulation. In particular, the long wavelength range of absorption and fluorescence within the "transparent window" makes phytochromes attractive for complex applications requiring deep tissue penetration or dual-wavelength control in combination with blue and UV light-sensing photoreceptors. In addition to the wide variability of applications employing natural and engineered phytochromes, we also discuss recent progress in the development of bilin-based fluorescent proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Tang
- Institute
of Synthetic Biology, Heinrich-Heine-University
Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hannes M. Beyer
- Institute
of Synthetic Biology, Heinrich-Heine-University
Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Matias D. Zurbriggen
- Institute
of Synthetic Biology and CEPLAS, Heinrich-Heine-University
Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse
1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Gärtner
- Retired: Max Planck Institute
for Chemical Energy Conversion. At present: Institute for Analytical Chemistry, University
Leipzig, Linnéstrasse
3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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15
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Lazar JT, Tabor JJ. Bacterial two-component systems as sensors for synthetic biology applications. CURRENT OPINION IN SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2021; 28:100398. [PMID: 34917859 PMCID: PMC8670732 DOI: 10.1016/j.coisb.2021.100398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Two-component systems (TCSs) are a ubiquitous family of signal transduction pathways that enable bacteria to sense and respond to diverse physical, chemical, and biological stimuli outside and inside the cell. Synthetic biologists have begun to repurpose TCSs for applications in optogenetics, materials science, gut microbiome engineering, and soil nutrient biosensing, among others. New engineering methods including genetic refactoring, DNA-binding domain swapping, detection threshold tuning, and phosphorylation cross-talk insulation are being used to increase the reliability of TCS sensor performance and tailor TCS signaling properties to the requirements of specific applications. There is now potential to combine these methods with large-scale gene synthesis and laboratory screening to discover the inputs sensed by many uncharacterized TCSs and develop a large new family of genetically-encoded sensors that respond to an unrivaled breadth of stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T Lazar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Tabor
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- PhD Program in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
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16
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Lindner F, Diepold A. Optogenetics in bacteria - applications and opportunities. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 46:6427354. [PMID: 34791201 PMCID: PMC8892541 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuab055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Optogenetics holds the promise of controlling biological processes with superb temporal and spatial resolution at minimal perturbation. Although many of the light-reactive proteins used in optogenetic systems are derived from prokaryotes, applications were largely limited to eukaryotes for a long time. In recent years, however, an increasing number of microbiologists use optogenetics as a powerful new tool to study and control key aspects of bacterial biology in a fast and often reversible manner. After a brief discussion of optogenetic principles, this review provides an overview of the rapidly growing number of optogenetic applications in bacteria, with a particular focus on studies venturing beyond transcriptional control. To guide future experiments, we highlight helpful tools, provide considerations for successful application of optogenetics in bacterial systems, and identify particular opportunities and challenges that arise when applying these approaches in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Lindner
- Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Ecophysiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Diepold
- Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Ecophysiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany.,SYNMIKRO, LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
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17
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Zhang J, Pang Q, Wang Q, Qi Q, Wang Q. Modular tuning engineering and versatile applications of genetically encoded biosensors. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2021; 42:1010-1027. [PMID: 34615431 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2021.1982858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Genetically encoded biosensors have a diverse range of detectable signals and potential applications in many fields, including metabolism control and high-throughput screening. Their ability to be used in situ with minimal interference to the bioprocess of interest could revolutionize synthetic biology and microbial cell factories. The performance and functions of these biosensors have been extensively studied and have been rapidly improved. We review here current biosensor tuning strategies and attempt to unravel how to obtain ideal biosensor functions through experimental adjustments. Strategies for expanding the biosensor input signals that increases the number of detectable compounds have also been summarized. Finally, different output signals and their practical requirements for biotechnology and biomedical applications and environmental safety concerns have been analyzed. This in-depth review of the responses and regulation mechanisms of genetically encoded biosensors will assist to improve their design and optimization in various application scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, P. R. China
| | - Qingxiao Pang
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, P. R. China
| | - Qi Wang
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, P. R. China
| | - Qingsheng Qi
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, P. R. China.,CAS Key Lab of Biobased Materials, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, P. R. China
| | - Qian Wang
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, P. R. China.,CAS Key Lab of Biobased Materials, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, P. R. China
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18
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Lalwani MA, Kawabe H, Mays RL, Hoffman SM, Avalos JL. Optogenetic Control of Microbial Consortia Populations for Chemical Production. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:2015-2029. [PMID: 34351122 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Microbial co-culture fermentations can improve chemical production from complex biosynthetic pathways over monocultures by distributing enzymes across multiple strains, thereby reducing metabolic burden, overcoming endogenous regulatory mechanisms, or exploiting natural traits of different microbial species. However, stabilizing and optimizing microbial subpopulations for maximal chemical production remains a major obstacle in the field. In this study, we demonstrate that optogenetics is an effective strategy to dynamically control populations in microbial co-cultures. Using a new optogenetic circuit we call OptoTA, we regulate an endogenous toxin-antitoxin system, enabling tunability of Escherichia coli growth using only blue light. With this system we can control the population composition of co-cultures of E. coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When introducing in each strain different metabolic modules of biosynthetic pathways for isobutyl acetate or naringenin, we found that the productivity of co-cultures increases by adjusting the population ratios with specific light duty cycles. This study shows the feasibility of using optogenetics to control microbial consortia populations and the advantages of using light to control their chemical production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto A. Lalwani
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Hinako Kawabe
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Rebecca L. Mays
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Shannon M. Hoffman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - José L. Avalos
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
- The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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19
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Abstract
Microbially produced indole metabolites serve as a diverse family of interspecies and interkingdom signaling molecules in the context of human health, crop production, and antibiotic resistance. We mined the protein database for sensors of indole metabolites and developed a biosensor for indole-3-aldehyde (I3A). Microbially produced I3A has been associated with reducing inflammation in diseases such as ulcerative colitis by stimulating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway. We engineered an E. coli strain embedded with a single plasmid carrying a chimeric two-component system that detects I3A. Our I3A receptor characterization confirmed binding site residues that contribute to the sensor's I3A detection range of 0.1-10 μM. This new I3A biosensor opens the door to sensing indole metabolites produced at various host-microbe interfaces and provides new parts for synthetic biology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiefei Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - W. Seth Childers
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, 219 Parkman Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
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20
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Oh TJ, Fan H, Skeeters SS, Zhang K. Steering Molecular Activity with Optogenetics: Recent Advances and Perspectives. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021; 5:e2000180. [PMID: 34028216 PMCID: PMC8218620 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202000180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetics utilizes photosensitive proteins to manipulate the localization and interaction of molecules in living cells. Because light can be rapidly switched and conveniently confined to the sub-micrometer scale, optogenetics allows for controlling cellular events with an unprecedented resolution in time and space. The past decade has witnessed an enormous progress in the field of optogenetics within the biological sciences. The ever-increasing amount of optogenetic tools, however, can overwhelm the selection of appropriate optogenetic strategies. Considering that each optogenetic tool may have a distinct mode of action, a comparative analysis of the current optogenetic toolbox can promote the further use of optogenetics, especially by researchers new to this field. This review provides such a compilation that highlights the spatiotemporal accuracy of current optogenetic systems. Recent advances of optogenetics in live cells and animal models are summarized, the emerging work that interlinks optogenetics with other research fields is presented, and exciting clinical and industrial efforts to employ optogenetic strategy toward disease intervention are reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teak-Jung Oh
- 600 South Mathews Avenue, 314 B Roger Adams Laboratory, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Huaxun Fan
- 600 South Mathews Avenue, 314 B Roger Adams Laboratory, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Savanna S Skeeters
- 600 South Mathews Avenue, 314 B Roger Adams Laboratory, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Kai Zhang
- 600 South Mathews Avenue, 314 B Roger Adams Laboratory, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
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21
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Soffer G, Perry JM, Shih SCC. Real-Time Optogenetics System for Controlling Gene Expression Using a Model-Based Design. Anal Chem 2021; 93:3181-3188. [PMID: 33543619 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Optimization of engineered biological systems requires precise control over the rates and timing of gene expression. Optogenetics is used to dynamically control gene expression as an alternative to conventional chemical-based methods since it provides a more convenient interface between digital control software and microbial culture. Here, we describe the construction of a real-time optogenetics platform, which performs closed-loop control over the CcaR-CcaS two-plasmid system in Escherichia coli. We showed the first model-based design approach by constructing a nonlinear representation of the CcaR-CcaS system, tuned the model through open-loop experimentation to capture the experimental behavior, and applied the model in silico to inform the necessary changes to build a closed-loop optogenetic control system. Our system periodically induces and represses the CcaR-CcaS system while recording optical density and fluorescence using image processing techniques. We highlight the facile nature of constructing our system and how our model-based design approach will potentially be used to model other systems requiring closed-loop optogenetic control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Soffer
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd West, Montréal, Québec H3G1M8, Canada.,Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West, Montréal, Québec H4B1R6, Canada
| | - James M Perry
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West, Montréal, Québec H4B1R6, Canada.,Department of Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West, Montréal, Québec H4B1R6, Canada
| | - Steve C C Shih
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd West, Montréal, Québec H3G1M8, Canada.,Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West, Montréal, Québec H4B1R6, Canada.,Department of Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West, Montréal, Québec H4B1R6, Canada
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22
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Baumschlager A, Khammash M. Synthetic Biological Approaches for Optogenetics and Tools for Transcriptional Light-Control in Bacteria. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021; 5:e2000256. [PMID: 34028214 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202000256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Light has become established as a tool not only to visualize and investigate but also to steer biological systems. This review starts by discussing the unique features that make light such an effective control input in biology. It then gives an overview of how light-control came to progress, starting with photoactivatable compounds and leading up to current genetic implementations using optogenetic approaches. The review then zooms in on optogenetics, focusing on photosensitive proteins, which form the basis for optogenetic engineering using synthetic biological approaches. As the regulation of transcription provides a highly versatile means for steering diverse biological functions, the focus of this review then shifts to transcriptional light regulators, which are presented in the biotechnologically highly relevant model organism Escherichia coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Baumschlager
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH-Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, Basel, 4058, Switzerland
| | - Mustafa Khammash
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH-Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, Basel, 4058, Switzerland
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23
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Tran P, Prindle A. Synthetic biology in biofilms: Tools, challenges, and opportunities. Biotechnol Prog 2021; 37:e3123. [PMID: 33423395 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.3123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The field of synthetic biology seeks to program living cells to perform novel functions with applications ranging from environmental biosensing to smart cell-based therapeutics. Bacteria are an especially attractive chassis organism due to their rapid growth, ease of genetic manipulation, and ability to persist across many environmental niches. Despite significant progress in bacterial synthetic biology, programming bacteria to perform novel functions outside the well-controlled laboratory context remains challenging. In contrast to planktonic laboratory growth, bacteria in nature predominately reside in the context of densely packed communities known as biofilms. While biofilms have historically been considered environmental and biomedical hazards, their physiology and emergent behaviors could be leveraged for synthetic biology to engineer more capable and robust bacteria. Specifically, bacteria within biofilms participate in complex emergent behaviors such as collective organization, cell-to-cell signaling, and division of labor. Understanding and utilizing these properties can enable the effective deployment of engineered bacteria into natural target environments. Toward this goal, this review summarizes the current state of synthetic biology in biofilms by highlighting new molecular tools and remaining biological challenges. Looking to future opportunities, advancing synthetic biology in biofilms will enable the next generation of smart cell-based technologies for use in medicine, biomanufacturing, and environmental remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Tran
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Arthur Prindle
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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24
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Huang Z, Li Z, Zhang X, Kang S, Dong R, Sun L, Fu X, Vaisar D, Watanabe K, Gu L. Creating Red Light-Switchable Protein Dimerization Systems as Genetically Encoded Actuators with High Specificity. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:3322-3333. [PMID: 33179507 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Protein dimerization systems controlled by red light with increased tissue penetration depth are a highly needed tool for clinical applications such as cell and gene therapies. However, mammalian applications of existing red light-induced dimerization systems are hampered by limitations of their two components: a photosensory protein (or photoreceptor) which often requires a mammalian exogenous chromophore and a naturally occurring photoreceptor binding protein typically having a complex structure and nonideal binding properties. Here, we introduce an efficient, generalizable method (COMBINES-LID) for creating highly specific, reversible light-induced heterodimerization systems independent of any existing binders to a photoreceptor. It involves a two-step binder screen (phage display and yeast two-hybrid) of a combinatorial nanobody library to obtain binders that selectively engage a light-activated form of a photoswitchable protein or domain not the dark form. Proof-of-principle was provided by engineering nanobody-based, red light-induced dimerization (nanoReD) systems comprising a truncated bacterial phytochrome sensory module using a mammalian endogenous chromophore, biliverdin, and light-form specific nanobodies. Selected nanoReD systems were biochemically characterized, exhibiting low dark activity and high induction specificity, and further demonstrated for the reversible control of protein translocation and activation of gene expression in mice. Overall, COMBINES-LID opens new opportunities for creating genetically encoded actuators for the optical manipulation of biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Zengpeng Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Fujian Collaborative Innovation Centre for Exploitation and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, PR China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Shoukai Kang
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Runze Dong
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Xiaonan Fu
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - David Vaisar
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Kurumi Watanabe
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Liangcai Gu
- Department of Biochemistry and Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
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25
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Hartsough LA, Park M, Kotlajich MV, Lazar JT, Han B, Lin CCJ, Musteata E, Gambill L, Wang MC, Tabor JJ. Optogenetic control of gut bacterial metabolism to promote longevity. eLife 2020; 9:56849. [PMID: 33325823 PMCID: PMC7744093 DOI: 10.7554/elife.56849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut microbial metabolism is associated with host longevity. However, because it requires direct manipulation of microbial metabolism in situ, establishing a causal link between these two processes remains challenging. We demonstrate an optogenetic method to control gene expression and metabolite production from bacteria residing in the host gut. We genetically engineer an Escherichia coli strain that secretes colanic acid (CA) under the quantitative control of light. Using this optogenetically-controlled strain to induce CA production directly in the Caenorhabditis elegans gut, we reveal the local effect of CA in protecting intestinal mitochondria from stress-induced hyper-fragmentation. We also demonstrate that the lifespan-extending effect of this strain is positively correlated with the intensity of green light, indicating a dose-dependent CA benefit on the host. Thus, optogenetics can be used to achieve quantitative and temporal control of gut bacterial metabolism in order to reveal its local and systemic effects on host health and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - John Tyler Lazar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Houston, United States
| | - Bing Han
- Huffington Center on Aging, Houston, United States
| | - Chih-Chun J Lin
- Huffington Center on Aging, Houston, United States.,Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Elena Musteata
- Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Program, Rice University, Houston, United States
| | - Lauren Gambill
- Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Program, Rice University, Houston, United States
| | - Meng C Wang
- Huffington Center on Aging, Houston, United States.,Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Houston, United States
| | - Jeffrey J Tabor
- Department of Bioengineering, Houston, United States.,Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Program, Rice University, Houston, United States.,Department of Biosciences, Houston, United States
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26
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Yang J, Lu Y. Physical stimuli-responsive cell-free protein synthesis. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2020; 5:363-368. [PMID: 33294650 PMCID: PMC7695910 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2020.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis has been developed as a critical platform in synthetic biology. Unlike the cell-based synthesis system, cell-free system activates transcriptional and translational mechanisms in vitro, and can control protein synthesis by artificially adding components or chemicals. However, the control method puts forward higher requirements in terms of accurate and non-toxic control, which cannot be achieved by chemical substances. For cell-free system, physical signal is a kind of ideal spatiotemporal control approach to replace chemical substances, realizing high accuracy with little side effect. Here we review the methods of using physical signals to control gene expression in cell-free systems, including studies based on light, temperature, electric field, and magnetic force. The transfer of these switches into cell-free system further expands the flexibility and controllability of the system, thus further expanding the application capability of cell-free systems. Finally, existing problems such as signal source and signal transmission are discussed, and future applications in pharmaceutical production, delivery and industrial production are further looked into.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junzhu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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27
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Hartmann D, Smith JM, Mazzotti G, Chowdhry R, Booth MJ. Controlling gene expression with light: a multidisciplinary endeavour. Biochem Soc Trans 2020; 48:1645-1659. [PMID: 32657338 PMCID: PMC7458398 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The expression of a gene to a protein is one of the most vital biological processes. The use of light to control biology offers unparalleled spatiotemporal resolution from an external, orthogonal signal. A variety of methods have been developed that use light to control the steps of transcription and translation of specific genes into proteins, for cell-free to in vivo biotechnology applications. These methods employ techniques ranging from the modification of small molecules, nucleic acids and proteins with photocages, to the engineering of proteins involved in gene expression using naturally light-sensitive proteins. Although the majority of currently available technologies employ ultraviolet light, there has been a recent increase in the use of functionalities that work at longer wavelengths of light, to minimise cellular damage and increase tissue penetration. Here, we discuss the different chemical and biological methods employed to control gene expression, while also highlighting the central themes and the most exciting applications within this diverse field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Hartmann
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K
| | - Jefferson M. Smith
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K
| | - Giacomo Mazzotti
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K
| | - Razia Chowdhry
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K
| | - Michael J. Booth
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K
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28
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Baumschlager A, Rullan M, Khammash M. Exploiting natural chemical photosensitivity of anhydrotetracycline and tetracycline for dynamic and setpoint chemo-optogenetic control. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3834. [PMID: 32737309 PMCID: PMC7395757 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17677-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcriptional inducer anhydrotetracycline (aTc) and the bacteriostatic antibiotic tetracycline (Tc) are commonly used in all fields of biology for control of transcription or translation. A drawback of these and other small molecule inducers is the difficulty of their removal from cell cultures, limiting their application for dynamic control. Here, we describe a simple method to overcome this limitation, and show that the natural photosensitivity of aTc/Tc can be exploited to turn them into highly predictable optogenetic transcriptional- and growth-regulators. This new optogenetic class uniquely features both dynamic and setpoint control which act via population-memory adjustable through opto-chemical modulation. We demonstrate this method by applying it for dynamic gene expression control and for enhancing the performance of an existing optogenetic system. We then expand the utility of the aTc system by constructing a new chemical bandpass filter that increases its aTc response range. The simplicity of our method enables scientists and biotechnologists to use their existing systems employing aTc/Tc for dynamic optogenetic experiments without genetic modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Baumschlager
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH-Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marc Rullan
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH-Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mustafa Khammash
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH-Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058, Basel, Switzerland.
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29
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Villafani Y, Yang HW, Park YI. Color Sensing and Signal Transmission Diversity of Cyanobacterial Phytochromes and Cyanobacteriochromes. Mol Cells 2020; 43:509-516. [PMID: 32438780 PMCID: PMC7332365 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2020.0077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
To perceive fluctuations in light quality, quantity, and timing, higher plants have evolved diverse photoreceptors including UVR8 (a UV-B photoreceptor), cryptochromes, phototropins, and phytochromes (Phys). In contrast to plants, prokaryotic oxygen-evolving photosynthetic organisms, cyanobacteria, rely mostly on bilin-based photoreceptors, namely, cyanobacterial phytochromes (Cphs) and cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs), which exhibit structural and functional differences compared with plant Phys. CBCRs comprise varying numbers of light sensing domains with diverse color-tuning mechanisms and signal transmission pathways, allowing cyanobacteria to respond to UV-A, visible, and far-red lights. Recent genomic surveys of filamentous cyanobacteria revealed novel CBCRs with broader chromophore-binding specificity and photocycle protochromicity. Furthermore, a novel Cph lineage has been identified that absorbs blue-violet/yellow-orange light. In this minireview, we briefly discuss the diversity in color sensing and signal transmission mechanisms of Cphs and CBCRs, along with their potential utility in the field of optogenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette Villafani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Hee Wook Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Youn-Il Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
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30
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Flux controlling technology for central carbon metabolism for efficient microbial bio-production. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 64:169-174. [PMID: 32485613 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2020.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Syntheses of many commodities that are produced using microorganisms require cofactors such as ATP and NAD(P)H. Thus, optimization of the flux distribution in central carbon metabolism, which plays a key role in cofactor regeneration, is critical for enhancing the production of the target compounds. Since the intracellular and extracellular conditions change over time in the fermentation process, dynamic control of the metabolic system for maintaining the cellular state appropriately is necessary. Here, we review techniques for detecting the intracellular metabolic state with fluorescent sensors and controlling the flux of central carbon metabolism with optogenetic tools, as well as present a prospect of bio-production processes for fine-tuning the flux distribution.
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31
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Li X, Zhang C, Xu X, Miao J, Yao J, Liu R, Zhao Y, Chen X, Yang Y. A single-component light sensor system allows highly tunable and direct activation of gene expression in bacterial cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:e33. [PMID: 31989175 PMCID: PMC7102963 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Light-regulated modules offer unprecedented new ways to control cellular behaviour with precise spatial and temporal resolution. Among a variety of bacterial light-switchable gene expression systems, single-component systems consisting of single transcription factors would be more useful due to the advantages of speed, simplicity, and versatility. In the present study, we developed a single-component light-activated bacterial gene expression system (eLightOn) based on a novel LOV domain from Rhodobacter sphaeroides (RsLOV). The eLightOn system showed significant improvements over the existing single-component bacterial light-activated expression systems, with benefits including a high ON/OFF ratio of >500-fold, a high activation level, fast activation kinetics, and/or good adaptability. Additionally, the induction characteristics, including regulatory windows, activation kinetics and light sensitivities, were highly tunable by altering the expression level of LexRO. We demonstrated the usefulness of the eLightOn system in regulating cell division and swimming by controlling the expression of the FtsZ and CheZ genes, respectively, as well as constructing synthetic Boolean logic gates using light and arabinose as the two inputs. Taken together, our data indicate that the eLightOn system is a robust and highly tunable tool for quantitative and spatiotemporal control of bacterial gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xie Li
- Optogenetics & Synthetic Biology Interdisciplinary Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Changcheng Zhang
- Optogenetics & Synthetic Biology Interdisciplinary Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xiaopei Xu
- Optogenetics & Synthetic Biology Interdisciplinary Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jun Miao
- Optogenetics & Synthetic Biology Interdisciplinary Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jing Yao
- Optogenetics & Synthetic Biology Interdisciplinary Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Renmei Liu
- Optogenetics & Synthetic Biology Interdisciplinary Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yuzheng Zhao
- Optogenetics & Synthetic Biology Interdisciplinary Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xianjun Chen
- Optogenetics & Synthetic Biology Interdisciplinary Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Optogenetics & Synthetic Biology Interdisciplinary Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
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32
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Abdelrasoul GN, Anwar A, MacKay S, Tamura M, Shah MA, Khasa DP, Montgomery RR, Ko AI, Chen J. DNA aptamer-based non-faradaic impedance biosensor for detecting E. coli. Anal Chim Acta 2020; 1107:135-144. [PMID: 32200887 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2020.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Developing a real-time, portable, and inexpensive sensor for pathogenic bacteria is crucial since the conventional detection approaches such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays are high cost, time-consuming, and require an expert operator. Here we present a portable, inexpensive, and convenient impedance-based biosensor using Interdigitated Electrode (IDE) arrays to detect Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a model to demonstrate the feasibility of an impedance-based biosensor. We manipulated the affinity of the IDE array towards E. coli (E. coli BL21 series) by functionalizing the IDEs' surface with an E. coli outer membrane protein (OMP) Ag1 Aptamer. To determine the dominant factors affecting the sensitivity and the performance of the biosensor in detecting E. coli, we investigated the roles of the substrate material used in the fabrication of the IDE, the concentration of the aptamer, and the composition of the carboxy aliphatic thiol mixture used in the pre-treatment of the IDE surface. In the sensing experiments we used an E. coli concentration range of 25-1000 cfu mL-1 and confirmed the binding of the OMP Ag1 Aptamer to the outer membrane protein of the E. coli by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Optical Microscopy, and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). By tuning the surface chemistry, the IDEs' substrate material, and the concentration of the OMP Ag1 Aptamer, our sensor could detect E. coli with the analytical sensitivity of approximately 1.8 Ohm/cfu and limit of detection of 9 cfu mL-1. We found that the molecular composition of the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) formed on the top of the IDEs before the attachment of the OMP Ag1 Aptamer significantly impacted the sensitivity of the sensor. Notably, with straightforward changes to the molecular recognition elements, this platform device can be used to detect a wide range of other microorganisms and chemicals relevant for environmental monitoring and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaser N Abdelrasoul
- Electrical, and Computer Engineering Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Afreen Anwar
- Electrical, and Computer Engineering Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, J&K, India
| | - Scott MacKay
- Electrical, and Computer Engineering Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Marcus Tamura
- Electrical, and Computer Engineering Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Manzoor A Shah
- Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, J&K, India
| | - Damase P Khasa
- Centre for Forest Research (CEF), Institute for Integrative and Systems Biology (IBIS), and Canada Research Chair in Forest and Environmental Genomics, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V0A6, Canada
| | - Ruth R Montgomery
- Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Albert I Ko
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Jie Chen
- Electrical, and Computer Engineering Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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33
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34
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Gale GAR, Schiavon Osorio AA, Mills LA, Wang B, Lea-Smith DJ, McCormick AJ. Emerging Species and Genome Editing Tools: Future Prospects in Cyanobacterial Synthetic Biology. Microorganisms 2019; 7:E409. [PMID: 31569579 PMCID: PMC6843473 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7100409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Revised: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in synthetic biology and an emerging algal biotechnology market have spurred a prolific increase in the availability of molecular tools for cyanobacterial research. Nevertheless, work to date has focused primarily on only a small subset of model species, which arguably limits fundamental discovery and applied research towards wider commercialisation. Here, we review the requirements for uptake of new strains, including several recently characterised fast-growing species and promising non-model species. Furthermore, we discuss the potential applications of new techniques available for transformation, genetic engineering and regulation, including an up-to-date appraisal of current Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR associated protein (CRISPR/Cas) and CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) research in cyanobacteria. We also provide an overview of several exciting molecular tools that could be ported to cyanobacteria for more advanced metabolic engineering approaches (e.g., genetic circuit design). Lastly, we introduce a forthcoming mutant library for the model species Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 that promises to provide a further powerful resource for the cyanobacterial research community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant A R Gale
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FF, UK.
| | - Alejandra A Schiavon Osorio
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
| | - Lauren A Mills
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Baojun Wang
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FF, UK.
| | - David J Lea-Smith
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Alistair J McCormick
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
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35
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Senoo S, Tandar ST, Kitamura S, Toya Y, Shimizu H. Light‐inducible flux control of triosephosphate isomerase on glycolysis in
Escherichia coli. Biotechnol Bioeng 2019; 116:3292-3300. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.27148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sachie Senoo
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and TechnologyOsaka University Osaka Japan
| | - Sebastian Tommi Tandar
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and TechnologyOsaka University Osaka Japan
| | - Sayaka Kitamura
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and TechnologyOsaka University Osaka Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Toya
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and TechnologyOsaka University Osaka Japan
| | - Hiroshi Shimizu
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and TechnologyOsaka University Osaka Japan
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36
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Castillo-Hair SM, Baerman EA, Fujita M, Igoshin OA, Tabor JJ. Optogenetic control of Bacillus subtilis gene expression. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3099. [PMID: 31308373 PMCID: PMC6629627 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10906-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis exhibits complex spatial and temporal gene expression signals. Although optogenetic tools are ideal for studying such processes, none has been engineered for this organism. Here, we port a cyanobacterial light sensor pathway comprising the green/red photoreversible two-component system CcaSR, two metabolic enzymes for production of the chromophore phycocyanobilin (PCB), and an output promoter to control transcription of a gene of interest into B. subtilis. Following an initial non-functional design, we optimize expression of pathway genes, enhance PCB production via a translational fusion of the biosynthetic enzymes, engineer a strong chimeric output promoter, and increase dynamic range with a miniaturized photosensor kinase. Our final design exhibits over 70-fold activation and rapid response dynamics, making it well-suited to studying a wide range of gene regulatory processes. In addition, the synthetic biology methods we develop to port this pathway should make B. subtilis easier to engineer in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elliot A Baerman
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Masaya Fujita
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Rd., Houston, TX, 77004, USA
| | - Oleg A Igoshin
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX, 77005, USA
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX, 77005, USA
- Center for Theoretical Biophysics, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Tabor
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX, 77005, USA.
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX, 77005, USA.
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37
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Schmidl SR, Ekness F, Sofjan K, Daeffler KNM, Brink KR, Landry BP, Gerhardt KP, Dyulgyarov N, Sheth RU, Tabor JJ. Rewiring bacterial two-component systems by modular DNA-binding domain swapping. Nat Chem Biol 2019; 15:690-698. [PMID: 31110305 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-019-0286-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Two-component systems (TCSs) are the largest family of multi-step signal transduction pathways and valuable sensors for synthetic biology. However, most TCSs remain uncharacterized or difficult to harness for applications. Major challenges are that many TCS output promoters are unknown, subject to cross-regulation, or silent in heterologous hosts. Here, we demonstrate that the two largest families of response regulator DNA-binding domains can be interchanged with remarkable flexibility, enabling the corresponding TCSs to be rewired to synthetic output promoters. We exploit this plasticity to eliminate cross-regulation, un-silence a gram-negative TCS in a gram-positive host, and engineer a system with over 1,300-fold activation. Finally, we apply DNA-binding domain swapping to screen uncharacterized Shewanella oneidensis TCSs in Escherichia coli, leading to the discovery of a previously uncharacterized pH sensor. This work should accelerate fundamental TCS studies and enable the engineering of a large family of genetically encoded sensors with diverse applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian R Schmidl
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,RELLIS campus, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Felix Ekness
- PhD Program in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Katri Sofjan
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Kathryn R Brink
- PhD Program in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Brian P Landry
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Karl P Gerhardt
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Ravi U Sheth
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Tabor
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA. .,PhD Program in Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA. .,Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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38
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Sankaran S, Becker J, Wittmann C, Del Campo A. Optoregulated Drug Release from an Engineered Living Material: Self-Replenishing Drug Depots for Long-Term, Light-Regulated Delivery. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1804717. [PMID: 30589209 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201804717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
On-demand and long-term delivery of drugs are common requirements in many therapeutic applications, not easy to be solved with available smart polymers for drug encapsulation. This work presents a fundamentally different concept to address such scenarios using a self-replenishing and optogenetically controlled living material. It consists of a hydrogel containing an active endotoxin-free Escherichia coli strain. The bacteria are metabolically and optogenetically engineered to secrete the antimicrobial and antitumoral drug deoxyviolacein in a light-regulated manner. The permeable hydrogel matrix sustains a viable and functional bacterial population and permits diffusion and delivery of the synthesized drug to the surrounding medium at quantities regulated by light dose. Using a focused light beam, the site for synthesis and delivery of the drug can be freely defined. The living material is shown to maintain considerable levels of drug production and release for at least 42 days. These results prove the potential and flexibility that living materials containing engineered bacteria can offer for advanced therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Judith Becker
- Institute of Systems Biotechnology, Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Christoph Wittmann
- Institute of Systems Biotechnology, Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Aránzazu Del Campo
- INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Campus D2 2, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Chemistry Department, Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
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39
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DIY optogenetics: Building, programming, and using the Light Plate Apparatus. Methods Enzymol 2019; 624:197-226. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2019.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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40
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Sankaran S, Del Campo A. Optoregulated Protein Release from an Engineered Living Material. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 3:e1800312. [PMID: 32627372 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201800312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Developing materials to encapsulate and deliver functional proteins inside the body is a challenging yet rewarding task for therapeutic purposes. High production costs, mostly associated with the purification process, short-term stability in vivo, and controlled and prolonged release are major hurdles for the clinical application of protein-based biopharmaceuticals. In an attempt to overcome these hurdles, herein, the possibility of incorporating bacteria as protein factories into a material and externally controlling protein release using optogenetics is demonstrated. By engineering bacteria to express and secrete a red fluorescent protein in response to low doses of blue light irradiation and embedding them in agarose hydrogels, living materials are fabricated capable of releasing proteins into the surrounding medium when exposed to light. These bacterial hydrogels allow spatially confined protein expression and dosed protein release over several weeks, regulated by the area and extent of light exposure. The possibility of incorporating such complex functions in a material using relatively simple material and genetic engineering strategies highlights the immense potential and versatility offered by living materials for protein-based biopharmaceutical delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aránzazu Del Campo
- INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Campus D2 2, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany.,Chemistry Department, Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
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41
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Liu Z, Zhang J, Jin J, Geng Z, Qi Q, Liang Q. Programming Bacteria With Light-Sensors and Applications in Synthetic Biology. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2692. [PMID: 30467500 PMCID: PMC6236058 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Photo-receptors are widely present in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, which serves as the foundation of tuning cell behaviors with light. While practices in eukaryotic cells have been relatively established, trials in bacterial cells have only been emerging in the past few years. A number of light sensors have been engineered in bacteria cells and most of them fall into the categories of two-component and one-component systems. Such a sensor toolbox has enabled practices in controlling synthetic circuits at the level of transcription and protein activity which is a major topic in synthetic biology, according to the central dogma. Additionally, engineered light sensors and practices of tuning synthetic circuits have served as a foundation for achieving light based real-time feedback control. Here, we review programming bacteria cells with light, introducing engineered light sensors in bacteria and their applications, including tuning synthetic circuits and achieving feedback controls over microbial cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zedao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jizhong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jiao Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zilong Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Qingsheng Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Quanfeng Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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42
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Hughes RM. A compendium of chemical and genetic approaches to light-regulated gene transcription. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2018; 53:453-474. [PMID: 30040498 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2018.1487382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
On-cue regulation of gene transcription is an invaluable tool for the study of biological processes and the development and integration of next-generation therapeutics. Ideal reagents for the precise regulation of gene transcription should be nontoxic to the host system, highly tunable, and provide a high level of spatial and temporal control. Light, when coupled with protein or small molecule-linked photoresponsive elements, presents an attractive means of meeting the demands of an ideal system for regulating gene transcription. In this review, we cover recent developments in the burgeoning field of light-regulated gene transcription, covering both genetically encoded and small-molecule based strategies for optical regulation of transcription during the period 2012 till present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Hughes
- a Department of Chemistry , East Carolina University , Greenville , NC , USA
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Landry BP, Palanki R, Dyulgyarov N, Hartsough LA, Tabor JJ. Phosphatase activity tunes two-component system sensor detection threshold. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1433. [PMID: 29650958 PMCID: PMC5897336 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03929-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Two-component systems (TCSs) are the largest family of multi-step signal transduction pathways in biology, and a major source of sensors for biotechnology. However, the input concentrations to which biosensors respond are often mismatched with application requirements. Here, we utilize a mathematical model to show that TCS detection thresholds increase with the phosphatase activity of the sensor histidine kinase. We experimentally validate this result in engineered Bacillus subtilis nitrate and E. coli aspartate TCS sensors by tuning their detection threshold up to two orders of magnitude. We go on to apply our TCS tuning method to recently described tetrathionate and thiosulfate sensors by mutating a widely conserved residue previously shown to impact phosphatase activity. Finally, we apply TCS tuning to engineer B. subtilis to sense and report a wide range of fertilizer concentrations in soil. This work will enable the engineering of tailor-made biosensors for diverse synthetic biology applications. Two-component systems are a major family of signal transduction pathways and a rich source of sensors for biotechnology. Here, the authors develop a general method for rationally tuning two-component system input detection thresholds via specific point mutations in sensor histidine kinase proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian P Landry
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, 77005, TX, USA
| | - Rohan Palanki
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, 77005, TX, USA
| | - Nikola Dyulgyarov
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, 77005, TX, USA
| | - Lucas A Hartsough
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, 77005, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Tabor
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, 77005, TX, USA. .,Department of Biosciences, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, 77005, TX, USA.
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Blain-Hartung M, Rockwell NC, Moreno MV, Martin SS, Gan F, Bryant DA, Lagarias JC. Cyanobacteriochrome-based photoswitchable adenylyl cyclases (cPACs) for broad spectrum light regulation of cAMP levels in cells. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:8473-8483. [PMID: 29632072 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.002258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Class III adenylyl cyclases generate the ubiquitous second messenger cAMP from ATP often in response to environmental or cellular cues. During evolution, soluble adenylyl cyclase catalytic domains have been repeatedly juxtaposed with signal-input domains to place cAMP synthesis under the control of a wide variety of these environmental and endogenous signals. Adenylyl cyclases with light-sensing domains have proliferated in photosynthetic species depending on light as an energy source, yet are also widespread in nonphotosynthetic species. Among such naturally occurring light sensors, several flavin-based photoactivated adenylyl cyclases (PACs) have been adopted as optogenetic tools to manipulate cellular processes with blue light. In this report, we report the discovery of a cyanobacteriochrome-based photoswitchable adenylyl cyclase (cPAC) from the cyanobacterium Microcoleus sp. PCC 7113. Unlike flavin-dependent PACs, which must thermally decay to be deactivated, cPAC exhibits a bistable photocycle whose adenylyl cyclase could be reversibly activated and inactivated by blue and green light, respectively. Through domain exchange experiments, we also document the ability to extend the wavelength-sensing specificity of cPAC into the near IR. In summary, our work has uncovered a cyanobacteriochrome-based adenylyl cyclase that holds great potential for the design of bistable photoswitchable adenylyl cyclases to fine-tune cAMP-regulated processes in cells, tissues, and whole organisms with light across the visible spectrum and into the near IR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Blain-Hartung
- From the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - Nathan C Rockwell
- From the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - Marcus V Moreno
- From the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - Shelley S Martin
- From the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - Fei Gan
- the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, and
| | - Donald A Bryant
- the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, and.,the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717
| | - J Clark Lagarias
- From the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616,
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Ong NT, Tabor JJ. A Miniaturized Escherichia coli Green Light Sensor with High Dynamic Range. Chembiochem 2018; 19:1255-1258. [PMID: 29420866 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201800007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Genetically engineered photoreceptors enable unrivaled control over gene expression. Previously, we ported the Synechocystis PCC 6803 CcaSR two-component system, which is activated by green light and deactivated by red, into Escherichia coli, resulting in a sensor with a sixfold dynamic range. Later, we optimized pathway protein expression levels and the output promoter sequence to decrease transcriptional leakiness and to increase the dynamic range to approximately 120-fold. These CcaSR v 1.0 and v 2.0 systems have been used for precise quantitative, temporal, and spatial control of gene expression for a variety of applications. Recently, other workers deleted two PAS domains of unknown function from the CcaS sensor histidine kinase in a system similar to CcaSR v 1.0. Here we apply these deletions to CcaSR v 2.0, resulting in a v 3.0 light sensor with an output four times less leaky and a dynamic range of nearly 600-fold. We demonstrate that the PAS domain deletions have no deleterious effect on CcaSR green light sensitivity or response dynamics. CcaSR v 3.0 is the best-performing engineered bacterial green light sensor available, and should have broad applications in fundamental and synthetic biology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas T Ong
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Jeffrey J Tabor
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77005, USA.,Department of Biosciences, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
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