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Li Y, Cao M, Gupta VK, Wang Y. Metabolic engineering strategies to enable microbial electrosynthesis utilization of CO 2: recent progress and challenges. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2024; 44:352-372. [PMID: 36775662 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2023.2167065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a promising technology that mainly utilizes microbial cells to convert CO2 into value-added chemicals using electrons provided by the cathode. However, the low electron transfer rate is a solid bottleneck hindering the further application of MES. Thus, as an effective strategy, genetic tools play a key role in MES for enhancing the electron transfer rate and diversity of production. We describe a set of genetic strategies based on fundamental characteristics and current successes and discuss their functional mechanisms in driving microbial electrocatalytic reactions to fully comprehend the roles and uses of genetic tools in MES. This paper also analyzes the process of nanomaterial application in extracellular electron transfer (EET). It provides a technique that combines nanomaterials and genetic tools to increase MES efficiency, because nanoparticles have a role in the production of functional genes in EET although genetic tools can subvert MES, it still has issues with difficult transformation and low expression levels. Genetic tools remain one of the most promising future strategies for advancing the MES process despite these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixin Li
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory for Synthetic Biotechnology of Xiamen City, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Mingfeng Cao
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory for Synthetic Biotechnology of Xiamen City, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen, China
| | - Vijai Kumar Gupta
- Biorefining and Advanced Materials Research Center, SRUC, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Yuanpeng Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, Key Laboratory for Synthetic Biotechnology of Xiamen City, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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2
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Lau MH, Madika A, Zhang Y, Minton NP. Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius Strain Engineering Using a Theophylline Responsive RiboCas for Controlled Gene Expression. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:1237-1245. [PMID: 38517011 PMCID: PMC11036489 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The relentless increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations as a consequence of the exploitation of fossil resources compels the adoption of sustainable routes to chemical and fuel manufacture based on biological fermentation processes. The use of thermophilic chassis in such processes is an attractive proposition; however, their effective exploitation will require improved genome editing tools. In the case of the industrially relevant chassis Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius, CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing has been demonstrated. The constitutive promoter used, however, accentuates the deleterious nature of Cas9, causing decreased transformation and low editing efficiencies, together with an increased likelihood of off-target effects or alternative mutations. Here, we rectify this issue by controlling the expression of Cas9 through the use of a synthetic riboswitch that is dependent on the nonmetabolized, nontoxic, and cheap inducer, theophylline. We demonstrate that the riboswitches are dose-dependent, allowing for controlled expression of the target gene. Through their use, we were then able to address the deleterious nature of Cas9 and produce an inducible system, RiboCas93. The benefits of RiboCas93 were demonstrated by increased transformation efficiency of the editing vectors, improved efficiency in mutant generation (100%), and a reduction of Cas9 toxicity, as indicated by a reduction in the number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) observed. This new system provides a quick and efficient way to produce mutants in P. thermoglucosidasius.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew
S. H. Lau
- BBSRC/EPSRC
Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), Biodiscovery Institute,
School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Abubakar Madika
- BBSRC/EPSRC
Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), Biodiscovery Institute,
School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
- Department
of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810107, Nigeria
| | - Ying Zhang
- BBSRC/EPSRC
Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), Biodiscovery Institute,
School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Nigel P. Minton
- BBSRC/EPSRC
Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), Biodiscovery Institute,
School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
- NIHR
Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham
University Hospitals NHS Trust and The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
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3
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Qi L, Iskols M, Shi D, Reddy P, Walker C, Lezgiyeva K, Voisin T, Pawlak M, Kuchroo VK, Chiu IM, Ginty DD, Sharma N. A mouse DRG genetic toolkit reveals morphological and physiological diversity of somatosensory neuron subtypes. Cell 2024; 187:1508-1526.e16. [PMID: 38442711 PMCID: PMC10947841 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) somatosensory neurons detect mechanical, thermal, and chemical stimuli acting on the body. Achieving a holistic view of how different DRG neuron subtypes relay neural signals from the periphery to the CNS has been challenging with existing tools. Here, we develop and curate a mouse genetic toolkit that allows for interrogating the properties and functions of distinct cutaneous targeting DRG neuron subtypes. These tools have enabled a broad morphological analysis, which revealed distinct cutaneous axon arborization areas and branching patterns of the transcriptionally distinct DRG neuron subtypes. Moreover, in vivo physiological analysis revealed that each subtype has a distinct threshold and range of responses to mechanical and/or thermal stimuli. These findings support a model in which morphologically and physiologically distinct cutaneous DRG sensory neuron subtypes tile mechanical and thermal stimulus space to collectively encode a wide range of natural stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Qi
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Michael Iskols
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David Shi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Pranav Reddy
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Christopher Walker
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Karina Lezgiyeva
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tiphaine Voisin
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mathias Pawlak
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Mass General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Vijay K Kuchroo
- Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Mass General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Isaac M Chiu
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David D Ginty
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Nikhil Sharma
- Department of Neurobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, 220 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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4
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Doszyn O, Dulski T, Zmorzynska J. Diving into the zebrafish brain: exploring neuroscience frontiers with genetic tools, imaging techniques, and behavioral insights. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1358844. [PMID: 38533456 PMCID: PMC10963419 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1358844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is increasingly used in neuroscience research. Zebrafish are relatively easy to maintain, and their high fecundity makes them suitable for high-throughput experiments. Their small, transparent embryos and larvae allow for easy microscopic imaging of the developing brain. Zebrafish also share a high degree of genetic similarity with humans, and are amenable to genetic manipulation techniques, such as gene knockdown, knockout, or knock-in, which allows researchers to study the role of specific genes relevant to human brain development, function, and disease. Zebrafish can also serve as a model for behavioral studies, including locomotion, learning, and social interactions. In this review, we present state-of-the-art methods to study the brain function in zebrafish, including genetic tools for labeling single neurons and neuronal circuits, live imaging of neural activity, synaptic dynamics and protein interactions in the zebrafish brain, optogenetic manipulation, and the use of virtual reality technology for behavioral testing. We highlight the potential of zebrafish for neuroscience research, especially regarding brain development, neuronal circuits, and genetic-based disorders and discuss its certain limitations as a model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - J. Zmorzynska
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw (IIMCB), Warsaw, Poland
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5
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Wendisch VF, Brito LF, Passaglia LM. Genome-based analyses to learn from and about Paenibacillus sonchi genomovar Riograndensis SBR5T. Genet Mol Biol 2024; 46:e20230115. [PMID: 38224489 PMCID: PMC10789242 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2023-0115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Paenibacillus sonchi genomovar Riograndensis SBR5T is a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) isolated in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul from the rhizosphere of Triticum aestivum. It fixes nitrogen, produces siderophores as well as the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid, solubilizes phosphate and displays antagonist activity against Listeria monocytogenes and Pectobacterium carotovorum. Comprehensive omics analysis and the development of genetic tools are key to characterizing and engineering such non-model microorganisms. Therefore, the complete genome of SBR5T was sequenced, and shown to encode 6,705 proteins, 87 tRNAs, and 27 rRNAs and it enabled a landscape transcriptome analysis that unveiled conserved transcriptional and translational patterns and characterized operon structures and riboswitches. The pangenome of P. sonchi species is open with a stable core pangenome. At the same time, the analysis of genes coding for nitrogenases revealed that the trait of nitrogen fixation is sparse within the Paenibacillaceae family and the presence of Fe-only nitrogenase in the P. sonchi group was exclusive to SBR5T. The development of genetic tools for SBR5T enabled genetic transformation, plasmid construction for constitutive and inducible gene expression, and gene repression using the CRISPRi system. Altogether, the work with P. sonchi can guide the study of non-model bacteria with economic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker F. Wendisch
- Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Genetics of Prokaryotes, Bielefeld, Germany
- Bielefeld University, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Luciana F. Brito
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Luciane M.P. Passaglia
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Genética, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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6
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Fan L, Liu J, Rinke C, Baker BJ, Zhang C. Editorial: Diversity, ecology and evolution of archaeal viruses. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1333790. [PMID: 38053562 PMCID: PMC10694439 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1333790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lu Fan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Archaea Geo-Omics, Department of Ocean Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China
| | | | - Christian Rinke
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Brett J. Baker
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, United States
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Changyi Zhang
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
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7
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du Plessis SJ, Blaxter M, Koepfli KP, Chadwick EA, Hailer F. Genomics Reveals Complex Population History and Unexpected Diversity of Eurasian Otters (Lutra lutra) in Britain Relative to Genetic Methods. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad207. [PMID: 37713621 PMCID: PMC10630326 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Conservation genetic analyses of many endangered species have been based on genotyping of microsatellite loci and sequencing of short fragments of mtDNA. The increase in power and resolution afforded by whole genome approaches may challenge conclusions made on limited numbers of loci and maternally inherited haploid markers. Here, we provide a matched comparison of whole genome sequencing versus microsatellite and control region (CR) genotyping for Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra). Previous work identified four genetically differentiated "stronghold" populations of otter in Britain, derived from regional populations that survived the population crash of the 1950s-1980s. Using whole genome resequencing data from 45 samples from across the British stronghold populations, we confirmed some aspects of population structure derived from previous marker-driven studies. Importantly, we showed that genomic signals of the population crash bottlenecks matched evidence from otter population surveys. Unexpectedly, two strongly divergent mitochondrial lineages were identified that were undetectable using CR fragments, and otters in the east of England were genetically distinct and surprisingly variable. We hypothesize that this previously unsuspected variability may derive from past releases of Eurasian otters from other, non-British source populations in England around the time of the population bottleneck. Our work highlights that even reasonably well-studied species may harbor genetic surprises, if studied using modern high-throughput sequencing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark Blaxter
- Tree of Life, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Front Royal, VA, USA
- Centre for Species Survival, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Frank Hailer
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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8
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Bost J, Recalde A, Waßmer B, Wagner A, Siebers B, Albers SV. Application of the endogenous CRISPR-Cas type I-D system for genetic engineering in the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1254891. [PMID: 37849926 PMCID: PMC10577407 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1254891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas systems are widely distributed among bacteria and archaea. In this study, we demonstrate the successful utilization of the type I-D CRISPR-Cas system for genetic engineering in the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Given its extreme growth conditions characterized by a temperature of 75°C and pH 3, an uracil auxotrophic selection system was previously established, providing a basis for our investigations. We developed a novel plasmid specifically designed for genome editing, which incorporates a mini-CRISPR array that can be induced using xylose, resulting in targeted DNA cleavage. Additionally, we integrated a gene encoding the β-galactosidase of Saccharolobus solfataricus into the plasmid, enabling blue-white screening and facilitating the mutant screening process. Through the introduction of donor DNA containing genomic modifications into the plasmid, we successfully generated deletion mutants and point mutations in the genome of S. acidocaldarius. Exploiting the PAM (protospacer adjacent motif) dependence of type I systems, we experimentally confirmed the functionality of three different PAMs (CCA, GTA, and TCA) through a self-targeting assessment assay and the gene deletion of upsE. Our findings elucidate the application of the endogenous Type I-D CRISPR-Cas system for genetic engineering in S. acidocaldarius, thus expanding its genetic toolbox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Bost
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alejandra Recalde
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bianca Waßmer
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Wagner
- Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry (MEB), Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Centre for Water and Environmental Research (CWE), Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Bettina Siebers
- Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry (MEB), Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Centre for Water and Environmental Research (CWE), Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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9
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Zhao R, Chen Z, Liang J, Dou J, Guo F, Xu Z, Wang T. Advances in Genetic Tools and Their Application in Streptococcus thermophilus. Foods 2023; 12:3119. [PMID: 37628118 PMCID: PMC10453384 DOI: 10.3390/foods12163119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus thermophilus is a traditional starter. Nowadays, key aspects of S. thermophilus physiology have been revealed concerning the phenotypic traits relevant for industrial applications, including sugar metabolism, protein hydrolysis, and the production of important metabolites that affect the sensory properties of fermented foods as well as the original cooperation with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus. Moreover, significant advances have been made in the synthetic biology toolbox of S. thermophilus based on technological advances in the genome and its sequencing and synthesis. In this review, we discuss the recently developed toolbox for S. thermophilus, including gene expression toolsets (promoters, terminators, plasmids, etc.) and genome editing tools. It can be used for both functionalized foods and therapeutic molecules for consumers. The availability of new molecular tools, including the genome editing toolbox, has facilitated the engineering of physiological studies of S. thermophilus and the generation of strains with improved technical and functional characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiting Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Science, Jinan 250353, China; (R.Z.); (Z.C.); (J.L.); (J.D.); (F.G.); (T.W.)
- School of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Science, Jinan 250353, China
| | - Zouquan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Science, Jinan 250353, China; (R.Z.); (Z.C.); (J.L.); (J.D.); (F.G.); (T.W.)
- School of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Science, Jinan 250353, China
| | - Jie Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Science, Jinan 250353, China; (R.Z.); (Z.C.); (J.L.); (J.D.); (F.G.); (T.W.)
- School of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Science, Jinan 250353, China
| | - Jiaxin Dou
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Science, Jinan 250353, China; (R.Z.); (Z.C.); (J.L.); (J.D.); (F.G.); (T.W.)
- School of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Science, Jinan 250353, China
| | - Fangyu Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Science, Jinan 250353, China; (R.Z.); (Z.C.); (J.L.); (J.D.); (F.G.); (T.W.)
- School of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Science, Jinan 250353, China
| | - Zhenshang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Science, Jinan 250353, China; (R.Z.); (Z.C.); (J.L.); (J.D.); (F.G.); (T.W.)
- School of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Science, Jinan 250353, China
| | - Ting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biobased Material and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Science, Jinan 250353, China; (R.Z.); (Z.C.); (J.L.); (J.D.); (F.G.); (T.W.)
- School of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Science, Jinan 250353, China
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10
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Willett JLE, Barnes AMT, Brunson DN, Lecomte A, Robertson EB, Dunny GM. Optimized Replication of Arrayed Bacterial Mutant Libraries Increases Access to Biological Resources. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0169323. [PMID: 37432110 PMCID: PMC10434011 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01693-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological collections, including arrayed libraries of single transposon (Tn) or deletion mutants, greatly accelerate the pace of bacterial genetic research. Despite the importance of these resources, few protocols exist for the replication and distribution of these materials. Here, we describe a protocol for creating multiple replicates of an arrayed bacterial Tn library consisting of approximately 6,800 mutants in 96-well plates (73 plates). Our protocol provides multiple checkpoints to guard against contamination and minimize genetic drift caused by freeze/thaw cycles. This approach can also be scaled for arrayed culture collections of various sizes. Overall, this protocol is a valuable resource for other researchers considering the construction and distribution of arrayed culture collection resources for the benefit of the greater scientific community. IMPORTANCE Arrayed mutant collections drive robust genetic screens, but few protocols exist for replication of these resources and subsequent quality control. Increasing the distribution of arrayed biological collections will increase the accessibility and use of these resources. Developing standardized techniques for replication of these resources is essential for ensuring their quality and usefulness to the scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia L. E. Willett
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Aaron M. T. Barnes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Debra N. Brunson
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Alexandre Lecomte
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Ethan B. Robertson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gary M. Dunny
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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11
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Bohic M, Upadhyay A, Eisdorfer JT, Keating J, Simon RC, Briones BA, Azadegan C, Nacht HD, Oputa O, Martinez AM, Bethell BN, Gradwell MA, Romanienko P, Ramer MS, Stuber GD, Abraira VE. A new Hoxb8FlpO mouse line for intersectional approaches to dissect developmentally defined adult sensorimotor circuits. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1176823. [PMID: 37603775 PMCID: PMC10437123 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1176823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Improvements in the speed and cost of expression profiling of neuronal tissues offer an unprecedented opportunity to define ever finer subgroups of neurons for functional studies. In the spinal cord, single cell RNA sequencing studies support decades of work on spinal cord lineage studies, offering a unique opportunity to probe adult function based on developmental lineage. While Cre/Flp recombinase intersectional strategies remain a powerful tool to manipulate spinal neurons, the field lacks genetic tools and strategies to restrict manipulations to the adult mouse spinal cord at the speed at which new tools develop. This study establishes a new workflow for intersectional mouse-viral strategies to dissect adult spinal function based on developmental lineages in a modular fashion. To restrict manipulations to the spinal cord, we generate a brain-sparing Hoxb8FlpO mouse line restricting Flp recombinase expression to caudal tissue. Recapitulating endogenous Hoxb8 gene expression, Flp-dependent reporter expression is present in the caudal embryo starting day 9.5. This expression restricts Flp activity in the adult to the caudal brainstem and below. Hoxb8FlpO heterozygous and homozygous mice do not develop any of the sensory or locomotor phenotypes evident in Hoxb8 heterozygous or mutant animals, suggesting normal developmental function of the Hoxb8 gene and protein in Hoxb8FlpO mice. Compared to the variability of brain recombination in available caudal Cre and Flp lines, Hoxb8FlpO activity is not present in the brain above the caudal brainstem, independent of mouse genetic background. Lastly, we combine the Hoxb8FlpO mouse line with dorsal horn developmental lineage Cre mouse lines to express GFP in developmentally determined dorsal horn populations. Using GFP-dependent Cre recombinase viruses and Cre recombinase-dependent inhibitory chemogenetics, we target developmentally defined lineages in the adult. We show how developmental knock-out versus transient adult silencing of the same ROR𝛃 lineage neurons affects adult sensorimotor behavior. In summary, this new mouse line and viral approach provides a blueprint to dissect adult somatosensory circuit function using Cre/Flp genetic tools to target spinal cord interneurons based on genetic lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Bohic
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience Department, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Aman Upadhyay
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience Department, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- Neuroscience PhD Program at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Jaclyn T. Eisdorfer
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience Department, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Jessica Keating
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience Department, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
- M.D./PhD Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Rhiana C. Simon
- Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Brandy A. Briones
- Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Chloe Azadegan
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience Department, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Hannah D. Nacht
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience Department, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Olisemeka Oputa
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience Department, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Alana M. Martinez
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience Department, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Bridget N. Bethell
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries and Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mark A. Gradwell
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience Department, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Peter Romanienko
- Genome Editing Shared Resource, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Matt S. Ramer
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries and Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Garret D. Stuber
- Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Victoria E. Abraira
- Cell Biology and Neuroscience Department, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
- W.M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
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Hocq R, Bottone S, Gautier A, Pflügl S. A fluorescent reporter system for anaerobic thermophiles. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1226889. [PMID: 37476481 PMCID: PMC10355840 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1226889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Owing to their inherent capacity to make invisible biological processes visible and quantifiable, fluorescent reporter systems have numerous applications in biotechnology. For classical fluorescent protein systems (i.e., GFP and derivatives), chromophore maturation is O2-dependent, restricting their applications to aerobic organisms. In this work, we pioneered the use of the oxygen-independent system FAST (Fluorescence Activating and absorption Shifting tag) in the thermophilic anaerobe Thermoanaerobacter kivui. We developed a modular cloning system that was used to easily clone a library of FAST expression cassettes in an E. coli-Thermoanaerobacter shuttle plasmid. FAST-mediated fluorescence was then assessed in vivo in T. kivui, and we observed bright green and red fluorescence for cells grown at 55°C. Next, we took advantage of this functional reporter system to characterize a set of homologous and heterologous promoters by quantifying gene expression, expanding the T. kivui genetic toolbox. Low fluorescence at 66°C (Topt for T. kivui) was subsequently investigated at the single-cell level using flow cytometry and attributed to plasmid instability at higher temperatures. Adaptive laboratory evolution circumvented this issue and drastically enhanced fluorescence at 66°C. Whole plasmid sequencing revealed the evolved strain carried functional plasmids truncated at the Gram-positive origin of replication, that could however not be linked to the increased fluorescence displayed by the evolved strain. Collectively, our work demonstrates the applicability of the FAST fluorescent reporter systems to T. kivui, paving the way for further applications in thermophilic anaerobes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rémi Hocq
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Optimized Expression of Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sara Bottone
- Laboratoire des Biomolécules (LBM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Sorbonne Université, École Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, Paris, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | - Arnaud Gautier
- Laboratoire des Biomolécules (LBM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Sorbonne Université, École Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, Paris, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | - Stefan Pflügl
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Optimized Expression of Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
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13
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Klotz A, Kaczmarczyk A, Jenal U. A Synthetic Cumate-Inducible Promoter for Graded and Homogenous Gene Expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023:e0021123. [PMID: 37199671 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00211-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Inducible gene expression systems are powerful genetic tools to study bacterial physiology, probing essential and toxic gene functions, gene dosage effects, and overexpression phenotypes. For the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, dedicated inducible gene expression systems are scarce. In the current study, we developed a minimal synthetic 4-isopropylbenzoic acid (cumate)-inducible promoter, called PQJ, that is tunable over several orders of magnitude. This was achieved by combining semirandomized housekeeping promoter libraries and control elements from the Pseudomonas putida strain F1 cym/cmt system with powerful fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to select functionally optimized variants. Using flow cytometry and live-cell fluorescence microscopy, we demonstrate that PQJ responds rapidly and homogenously to the inducer cumate in a graded manner at the single-cell level. PQJ and cumate are orthogonal to the frequently used isopropyl β-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG)-regulated lacIq-Ptac expression system. The modular design of the cumate-inducible expression cassette together with the FACS-based enrichment strategy presented here facilitates portability, thus serving as a blueprint for the development of tailored gene expression systems for a wide range of bacteria. IMPORTANCE Reverse genetics is a powerful approach to study bacterial physiology and behavior by relying on well-developed genetic tools, such as inducible promoters. For the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, well-characterized inducible promoters are scarce. In the current work, we used a synthetic biology-based approach to develop a cumate-inducible promoter for P. aeruginosa, termed PQJ, that shows excellent induction properties at the single-cell level. This genetic tool provides the means for qualitative and quantitative gene function studies describing P. aeruginosa's physiology and virulence in vitro and in vivo. Because this synthetic approach to constructing species-specific inducible promoters is portable, it can serve as a blueprint for similar tailored gene expression systems in bacteria largely lacking such tools, including, for example, representatives of the human microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Urs Jenal
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Prostak SM, Medina EM, Kalinka E, Fritz-Laylin LK. A guide to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the chytrid fungus Spizellomyces punctatus. Access Microbiol 2023; 5:acmi000566.v3. [PMID: 37323946 PMCID: PMC10267658 DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000566.v3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Chytrid fungi play key ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems, and some species cause a devastating skin disease in frogs and salamanders. Additionally, chytrids occupy a unique phylogenetic position- sister to the well-studied Dikarya (the group including yeasts, sac fungi, and mushrooms) and related to animals- making chytrids useful for answering important evolutionary questions. Despite their importance, little is known about the basic cell biology of chytrids. A major barrier to understanding chytrid biology has been a lack of genetic tools with which to test molecular hypotheses. Medina and colleagues recently developed a protocol for Agrobacterium -mediated transformation of Spizellomyces punctatus. In this manuscript, we describe the general procedure including planning steps and expected results. We also provide in-depth, step-by-step protocols and video guides for performing the entirety of this transformation procedure on protocols.io (dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.x54v9dd1pg3e/v1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Prostak
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Edgar M. Medina
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Erik Kalinka
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
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Murphy BT, Wiepen JJ, He H, Pramanik AS, Peters JM, Stevenson B, Zückert WR. Inducible CRISPRi-Based Operon Silencing and Selective in Trans Gene Complementation in Borrelia burgdorferi. J Bacteriol 2023; 205:e0046822. [PMID: 36719218 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00468-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
To accelerate genetic studies on the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi, we developed an enhanced CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) approach for isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG)-inducible repression of specific B. burgdorferi genes. The entire system is encoded on a compact 11-kb shuttle vector plasmid that allows for inducible expression of both the sgRNA module and a nontoxic codon-optimized dCas9 protein. We validated this CRISPRi system by targeting the genes encoding OspA and OspB, abundant surface lipoproteins coexpressed by a single operon, and FlaB, the major subunit forming the periplasmic flagella. As in other systems, single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) complementary to the nontemplate strand were consistently effective in gene repression, with 4- to 994-fold reductions in targeted transcript levels and concomitant reductions of protein levels. Furthermore, we showed that ospAB knockdowns could be selectively complemented in trans for OspA expression via the insertion of CRISPRi-resistant, synonymously or nonsynonymously mutated protospacer adjacent motif (PAM*) ospA alleles into a unique site within the CRISPRi plasmid. Together, this establishes CRISPRi PAM* as a robust new genetic tool to simplify the study of B. burgdorferi genes, bypassing the need for gene disruptions by allelic exchange and avoiding rare codon toxicity from the heterologous expression of dCas9. IMPORTANCE Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochetal bacterium causing Lyme disease, is a tick-borne pathogen of global importance. Here, we expand the genetic toolbox for studying B. burgdorferi physiology and pathogenesis by establishing a single plasmid-based, fully inducible, and nontoxic CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) system for transcriptional silencing of B. burgdorferi genes and operons. We also show that alleles of CRISPRi-targeted genes with mutated protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM*) sites are CRISPRi resistant and can be used for simultaneous in trans gene complementation. The CRISPRi PAM* system will streamline the study of essential Borrelia proteins and accelerate investigations into their structure-function relationships.
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Gouthu S, Mandelli C, Eubanks BA, Deluc LG. Transgene-free genome editing and RNAi ectopic application in fruit trees: Potential and limitations. Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:979742. [PMID: 36325537 PMCID: PMC9621297 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.979742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
For the past fifteen years, significant research advances in sequencing technology have led to a substantial increase in fruit tree genomic resources and databases with a massive number of OMICS datasets (transcriptomic, proteomics, metabolomics), helping to find associations between gene(s) and performance traits. Meanwhile, new technology tools have emerged for gain- and loss-of-function studies, specifically in gene silencing and developing tractable plant models for genetic transformation. Additionally, innovative and adapted transformation protocols have optimized genetic engineering in most fruit trees. The recent explosion of new gene-editing tools allows for broadening opportunities for functional studies in fruit trees. Yet, the fruit tree research community has not fully embraced these new technologies to provide large-scale genome characterizations as in cereals and other staple food crops. Instead, recent research efforts in the fruit trees appear to focus on two primary translational tools: transgene-free gene editing via Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) delivery and the ectopic application of RNA-based products in the field for crop protection. The inherent nature of the propagation system and the long juvenile phase of most fruit trees are significant justifications for the first technology. The second approach might have the public favor regarding sustainability and an eco-friendlier environment for a crop production system that could potentially replace the use of chemicals. Regardless of their potential, both technologies still depend on the foundational knowledge of gene-to-trait relationships generated from basic genetic studies. Therefore, we will discuss the status of gene silencing and DNA-based gene editing techniques for functional studies in fruit trees followed by the potential and limitations of their translational tools (RNP delivery and RNA-based products) in the context of crop production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satyanarayana Gouthu
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Christian Mandelli
- Oregon Wine Research Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Britt A. Eubanks
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Laurent G. Deluc
- Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
- Oregon Wine Research Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
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Song Y, He S, Jopkiewicz A, Setroikromo R, van Merkerk R, Quax WJ. Development and application of CRISPR-based genetic tools in Bacillus species and Bacillus phages. J Appl Microbiol 2022; 133:2280-2298. [PMID: 35797344 PMCID: PMC9796756 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Recently, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system has been developed into a precise and efficient genome editing tool. Since its discovery as an adaptive immune system in prokaryotes, it has been applied in many different research fields including biotechnology and medical sciences. The high demand for rapid, highly efficient and versatile genetic tools to thrive in bacteria-based cell factories accelerates this process. This review mainly focuses on significant advancements of the CRISPR system in Bacillus subtilis, including the achievements in gene editing, and on problems still remaining. Next, we comprehensively summarize this genetic tool's up-to-date development and utilization in other Bacillus species, including B. licheniformis, B. methanolicus, B. anthracis, B. cereus, B. smithii and B. thuringiensis. Furthermore, we describe the current application of CRISPR tools in phages to increase Bacillus hosts' resistance to virulent phages and phage genetic modification. Finally, we suggest potential strategies to further improve this advanced technique and provide insights into future directions of CRISPR technologies for rendering Bacillus species cell factories more effective and more powerful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafeng Song
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical BiologyGroningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern ChinaInstitute of Microbiology, Guangdong Acadamy of SciencesGuangzhouChina
| | - Siqi He
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical BiologyGroningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Anita Jopkiewicz
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical BiologyGroningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Rita Setroikromo
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical BiologyGroningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Ronald van Merkerk
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical BiologyGroningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Wim J. Quax
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical BiologyGroningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
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Bourgade B, Stensjö K. Synthetic biology in marine cyanobacteria: Advances and challenges. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:994365. [PMID: 36188008 PMCID: PMC9522894 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.994365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The current economic and environmental context requests an accelerating development of sustainable alternatives for the production of various target compounds. Biological processes offer viable solutions and have gained renewed interest in the recent years. For example, photosynthetic chassis organisms are particularly promising for bioprocesses, as they do not require biomass-derived carbon sources and contribute to atmospheric CO2 fixation, therefore supporting climate change mitigation. Marine cyanobacteria are of particular interest for biotechnology applications, thanks to their rich diversity, their robustness to environmental changes, and their metabolic capabilities with potential for therapeutics and chemicals production without requiring freshwater. The additional cyanobacterial properties, such as efficient photosynthesis, are also highly beneficial for biotechnological processes. Due to their capabilities, research efforts have developed several genetic tools for direct metabolic engineering applications. While progress toward a robust genetic toolkit is continuously achieved, further work is still needed to routinely modify these species and unlock their full potential for industrial applications. In contrast to the understudied marine cyanobacteria, genetic engineering and synthetic biology in freshwater cyanobacteria are currently more advanced with a variety of tools already optimized. This mini-review will explore the opportunities provided by marine cyanobacteria for a greener future. A short discussion will cover the advances and challenges regarding genetic engineering and synthetic biology in marine cyanobacteria, followed by a parallel with freshwater cyanobacteria and their current genetic availability to guide the prospect for marine species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Bourgade
- Microbial Chemistry, Department of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Stensjö
- Microbial Chemistry, Department of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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19
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Duhart JC, Mosca TJ. Genetic regulation of central synapse formation and organization in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 2022; 221:6597078. [PMID: 35652253 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A goal of modern neuroscience involves understanding how connections in the brain form and function. Such a knowledge is essential to inform how defects in the exquisite complexity of nervous system growth influence neurological disease. Studies of the nervous system in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster enabled the discovery of a wealth of molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying development of synapses-the specialized cell-to-cell connections that comprise the essential substrate for information flow and processing in the nervous system. For years, the major driver of knowledge was the neuromuscular junction due to its ease of examination. Analogous studies in the central nervous system lagged due to a lack of genetic accessibility of specific neuron classes, synaptic labels compatible with cell-type-specific access, and high resolution, quantitative imaging strategies. However, understanding how central synapses form remains a prerequisite to understanding brain development. In the last decade, a host of new tools and techniques extended genetic studies of synapse organization into central circuits to enhance our understanding of synapse formation, organization, and maturation. In this review, we consider the current state-of-the-field. We first discuss the tools, technologies, and strategies developed to visualize and quantify synapses in vivo in genetically identifiable neurons of the Drosophila central nervous system. Second, we explore how these tools enabled a clearer understanding of synaptic development and organization in the fly brain and the underlying molecular mechanisms of synapse formation. These studies establish the fly as a powerful in vivo genetic model that offers novel insights into neural development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Duhart
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Timothy J Mosca
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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Wefelmeier K, Ebert BE, Blank LM, Schmitz S. Mix and Match: Promoters and Terminators for Tuning Gene Expression in the Methylotrophic Yeast Ogataea polymorpha. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:876316. [PMID: 35620471 PMCID: PMC9127203 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.876316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The yeast Ogataea polymorpha is an upcoming host for bio-manufacturing due to its unique physiological properties, including its broad substrate spectrum, and particularly its ability to utilize methanol as the sole carbon and energy source. However, metabolic engineering tools for O. polymorpha are still rare. In this study we characterized the influence of 6 promoters and 15 terminators on gene expression throughout batch cultivations with glucose, glycerol, and methanol as carbon sources as well as mixes of these carbon sources. For this characterization, a short half-life Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) variant was chosen, which allows a precise temporal resolution of gene expression. Our promoter studies revealed how different promoters do not only influence the expression strength but also the timepoint of maximal expression. For example, the expression strength of the catalase promoter (pCAT) and the methanol oxidase promoter (pMOX) are comparable on methanol, but the maximum expression level of the pCAT is reached more than 24 h earlier. By varying the terminators, a 6-fold difference in gene expression was achieved with the MOX terminator boosting gene expression on all carbon sources by around 50% compared to the second-strongest terminator. It was shown that this exceptional increase in gene expression is achieved by the MOX terminator stabilizing the mRNA, which results in an increased transcript level in the cells. We further found that different pairing of promoters and terminators or the expression of a different gene (β-galactosidase gene) did not influence the performance of the genetic parts. Consequently, it is possible to mix and match promoters and terminators as independent elements to tune gene expression in O. polymorpha.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Wefelmeier
- IAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Birgitta E Ebert
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lars M Blank
- IAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Simone Schmitz
- IAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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National Kidney Foundation Research Roundtable Work Group on behalf of the National Kidney Foundation. Research Priorities for Kidney-Related Research-An Agenda to Advance Kidney Care: A Position Statement From the National Kidney Foundation. Am J Kidney Dis 2021; 79:141-52. [PMID: 34627932 DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2021.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Despite the high prevalence and economic burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States, federal funding for kidney-related research, prevention, and education activities under the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) remains substantially lower compared to other chronic diseases. More federal support is needed to promote critical research that will expand knowledge of kidney health and disease, develop new and effective therapies, and reduce health disparities. In 2021, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) convened 2 Research Roundtables (preclinical and clinical research), comprising nephrology leaders from prominent US academic institutions and the pharmaceutical industry, key bodies with expertise in research, and including individuals with CKD and their caregivers and kidney donors. The goal of these roundtables was to identify priorities for preclinical and clinical kidney-related research. The research priorities identified by the Research Roundtables and presented in this position statement outline attainable opportunities for groundbreaking and critically needed innovations that will benefit patients with kidney disease in the next 5-10 years. Research priorities fall within 4 preclinical science themes (expand data science capability, define kidney disease mechanisms and utilize genetic tools to identify new therapeutic targets, develop better models of human disease, and test cell-specific drug delivery systems and utilize gene editing) and 3 clinical science themes (expand number and inclusivity of clinical trials, develop and test interventions to reduce health disparities, and support implementation science). These priorities in kidney-related research, if supported by additional funding by federal agencies, will increase our understanding of the development and progression of kidney disease among diverse populations, attract additional industry investment, and lead to new and more personalized treatments.
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Hakimi H, Asada M, Kawazu SI. Recent Advances in Molecular Genetic Tools for Babesia. Vet Sci 2021; 8:222. [PMID: 34679052 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8100222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of in vitro culture and completion of genome sequencing of several Babesia parasites promoted the efforts to establish transfection systems for these parasites to dissect the gene functions. It has been more than a decade since the establishment of first transfection for Babesia bovis, the causative agent of bovine babesiosis. However, the number of genes that were targeted by genetic tools in Babesia parasites is limited. This is partially due to the low efficiencies of these methods. The recent adaptation of CRISPR/Cas9 for genome editing of Babesia bovis can accelerate the efforts for dissecting this parasite’s genome and extend the knowledge on biological aspects of erythrocytic and tick stages of Babesia. Additionally, glmS ribozyme as a conditional knockdown system is available that could be used for the characterization of essential genes. The development of high throughput genetic tools is needed to dissect the function of multigene families, targeting several genes in a specific pathway, and finally genome-wide identification of essential genes to find novel drug targets. In this review, we summarized the current tools that are available for Babesia and the genes that are being targeted by these tools. This may draw a perspective for the future development of genetic tools and pave the way for the identification of novel drugs or vaccine targets.
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Zhao Z, Tian D, McBride CS. Development of a pan-neuronal genetic driver in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Cell Rep Methods 2021; 1:100042. [PMID: 34590074 PMCID: PMC8478256 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2021.100042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The recent development of neurogenetic tools in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes is beginning to shed light on the neural basis of behaviors that make this species a major vector of human disease. However, we still lack a pan-neuronal expression driver-a key tool that provides genetic access to all neurons. Here, we describe our efforts to fill this gap via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in of reporters to broadly expressed neural genes and report on the generation of two strains, a Syt1:GCaMP6s strain that expresses synaptically localized GCaMP and a brp-T2A-QF2w driver strain that can be used to drive and amplify expression of any effector via the Q binary system. Both manipulations broadly and uniformly label the nervous system with only modest effects on behavior. We expect these strains to facilitate neurobiological research in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes and document both successful and failed manipulations as a roadmap for similar tool development in other non-model species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilei Zhao
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - David Tian
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Carolyn S. McBride
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
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24
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Lau MSH, Sheng L, Zhang Y, Minton NP. Development of a Suite of Tools for Genome Editing in Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius and Their Use to Identify the Potential of a Native Plasmid in the Generation of Stable Engineered Strains. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:1739-1749. [PMID: 34197093 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The relentless rise in the levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases caused by the exploitation of fossil fuel necessitates the development of more environmentally friendly routes to the manufacture of chemicals and fuels. The exploitation of a fermentative process that uses a thermophilic chassis represents an attractive option. Its use, however, is hindered by a dearth of genetic tools. Here we expand on those available for the engineering of the industrial chassis Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius through the assembly and testing of a range of promoters, ribosome binding sites, reporter genes, and the implementation of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing based on two different thermostable Cas9 nucleases. The latter were used to demonstrate that the deletion of the two native plasmids carried by P. thermoglucosidasius, pNCI001 and pNCI002, either singly or in combination, had no discernible effects on the overall phenotypic characteristics of the organism. Through the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated insertion of the gene encoding a novel fluorescent reporter, eCGP123, we showed that pNCI001 exhibited a high degree of segregational stability. As the relatively higher copy number of pNCI001 led to higher levels of eCGP123 expression than when the same gene was integrated into the chromosome, we propose that pNCI001 represents the preferred option for the integration of metabolic operons when stable commercial strains are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. H. Lau
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), Biodiscovery Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Lili Sheng
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), Biodiscovery Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Ying Zhang
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), Biodiscovery Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Nigel P. Minton
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), Biodiscovery Institute, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
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25
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Mellini M, Lucidi M, Imperi F, Visca P, Leoni L, Rampioni G. Generation of Genetic Tools for Gauging Multiple-Gene Expression at the Single-Cell Level. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:e02956-20. [PMID: 33608300 DOI: 10.1128/AEM.02956-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Key microbial processes in many bacterial species are heterogeneously expressed in single cells of bacterial populations. However, the paucity of adequate molecular tools for live, real-time monitoring of multiple-gene expression at the single-cell level has limited the understanding of phenotypic heterogeneity. To investigate phenotypic heterogeneity in the ubiquitous opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a genetic tool that allows gauging multiple-gene expression at the single-cell level has been generated. This tool, named pRGC, consists of a promoter-probe vector for transcriptional fusions that carries three reporter genes coding for the fluorescent proteins mCherry, green fluorescent protein (GFP), and cyan fluorescent protein (CFP). The pRGC vector has been characterized and validated via single-cell gene expression analysis of both constitutive and iron-regulated promoters, showing clear discrimination of the three fluorescence signals in single cells of a P. aeruginosa population without the need for image processing for spectral cross talk correction. In addition, two pRGC variants have been generated for either (i) integration of the reporter gene cassette into a single neutral site of P. aeruginosa chromosome that is suitable for long-term experiments in the absence of antibiotic selection or (ii) replication in bacterial genera other than Pseudomonas The easy-to-use genetic tools generated in this study will allow rapid and cost-effective investigation of multiple-gene expression in populations of environmental and pathogenic bacteria, hopefully advancing the understanding of microbial phenotypic heterogeneity.IMPORTANCE Within a bacterial population, single cells can differently express some genes, even though they are genetically identical and experience the same chemical and physical stimuli. This phenomenon, known as phenotypic heterogeneity, is mainly driven by gene expression noise and results in the emergence of bacterial subpopulations with distinct phenotypes. The analysis of gene expression at the single-cell level has shown that phenotypic heterogeneity is associated with key bacterial processes, including competence, sporulation, and persistence. In this study, new genetic tools have been generated that allow easy cloning of up to three promoters upstream of distinct fluorescent genes, making it possible to gauge multiple-gene expression at the single-cell level by fluorescence microscopy without the need for advanced image-processing procedures. A proof of concept has been provided by investigating iron uptake and iron storage gene expression in response to iron availability in P. aeruginosa.
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26
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Wilding-Steele T, Ramette Q, Jacottin P, Soucaille P. Improved CRISPR/Cas9 Tools for the Rapid Metabolic Engineering of Clostridium acetobutylicum. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073704. [PMID: 33918190 PMCID: PMC8037352 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas (CRISPR-associated proteins)9 tools have revolutionized biology-several highly efficient tools have been constructed that have resulted in the ability to quickly engineer model bacteria, for example, Escherichia coli. However, the use of CRISPR/Cas9 tools has lagged behind in non-model bacteria, hampering engineering efforts. Here, we developed improved CRISPR/Cas9 tools to enable efficient rapid metabolic engineering of the industrially relevant bacterium Clostridium acetobutylicum. Previous efforts to implement a CRISPR/Cas9 system in C. acetobutylicum have been hampered by the lack of tightly controlled inducible systems along with large plasmids resulting in low transformation efficiencies. We successfully integrated the cas9 gene from Streptococcuspyogenes into the genome under control of the xylose inducible system from Clostridium difficile, which we then showed resulted in a tightly controlled system. We then optimized the length of the editing cassette, resulting in a small editing plasmid, which also contained the upp gene in order to rapidly lose the plasmid using the upp/5-fluorouracil counter-selection system. We used this system to perform individual and sequential deletions of ldhA and the ptb-buk operon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Wilding-Steele
- INP, TBI, INSA, UPS, Université de Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, France; wilding-@insa-toulouse.fr (T.W.-S.); (Q.R.); (P.J.)
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR 792, 31077 Toulouse, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 5504, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Quentin Ramette
- INP, TBI, INSA, UPS, Université de Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, France; wilding-@insa-toulouse.fr (T.W.-S.); (Q.R.); (P.J.)
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR 792, 31077 Toulouse, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 5504, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Paul Jacottin
- INP, TBI, INSA, UPS, Université de Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, France; wilding-@insa-toulouse.fr (T.W.-S.); (Q.R.); (P.J.)
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR 792, 31077 Toulouse, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 5504, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Philippe Soucaille
- INP, TBI, INSA, UPS, Université de Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, France; wilding-@insa-toulouse.fr (T.W.-S.); (Q.R.); (P.J.)
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), UMR 792, 31077 Toulouse, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 5504, 31400 Toulouse, France
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
- Correspondence:
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Mich JK, Graybuck LT, Hess EE, Mahoney JT, Kojima Y, Ding Y, Somasundaram S, Miller JA, Kalmbach BE, Radaelli C, Gore BB, Weed N, Omstead V, Bishaw Y, Shapovalova NV, Martinez RA, Fong O, Yao S, Mortrud M, Chong P, Loftus L, Bertagnolli D, Goldy J, Casper T, Dee N, Opitz-Araya X, Cetin A, Smith KA, Gwinn RP, Cobbs C, Ko AL, Ojemann JG, Keene CD, Silbergeld DL, Sunkin SM, Gradinaru V, Horwitz GD, Zeng H, Tasic B, Lein ES, Ting JT, Levi BP. Functional enhancer elements drive subclass-selective expression from mouse to primate neocortex. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108754. [PMID: 33789096 PMCID: PMC8163032 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral genetic tools that target specific brain cell types could transform basic neuroscience and targeted gene therapy. Here, we use comparative open chromatin analysis to identify thousands of human-neocortical-subclass-specific putative enhancers from across the genome to control gene expression in adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. The cellular specificity of reporter expression from enhancer-AAVs is established by molecular profiling after systemic AAV delivery in mouse. Over 30% of enhancer-AAVs produce specific expression in the targeted subclass, including both excitatory and inhibitory subclasses. We present a collection of Parvalbumin (PVALB) enhancer-AAVs that show highly enriched expression not only in cortical PVALB cells but also in some subcortical PVALB populations. Five vectors maintain PVALB-enriched expression in primate neocortex. These results demonstrate how genome-wide open chromatin data mining and cross-species AAV validation can be used to create the next generation of non-species-restricted viral genetic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- John K Mich
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | | | - Erik E Hess
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Yoshiko Kojima
- Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yi Ding
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Brian E Kalmbach
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Bryan B Gore
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Natalie Weed
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Olivia Fong
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Shenqin Yao
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Peter Chong
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Luke Loftus
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Jeff Goldy
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Nick Dee
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Ali Cetin
- Department of Biology and Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Ryder P Gwinn
- Epilepsy Surgery and Functional Neurosurgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Charles Cobbs
- The Ben and Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew L Ko
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA; Regional Epilepsy Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeffrey G Ojemann
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA; Regional Epilepsy Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - C Dirk Keene
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Daniel L Silbergeld
- Department of Neurological Surgery and Alvord Brain Tumor Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Viviana Gradinaru
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Gregory D Horwitz
- Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hongkui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Ed S Lein
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA; Regional Epilepsy Center, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jonathan T Ting
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA; Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Boaz P Levi
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA.
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28
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Abstract
Progress in biomedical science is tightly associated with the improvement of methods and genetic tools to manipulate and analyze gene function in mice, the most widely used model organism in biomedical research. The joint effort of numerous individual laboratories and consortiums has contributed to the creation of a large genetic resource that enables scientists to image cells, probe signaling pathways activities, or modify a gene function in any desired cell type or time point, à la carte. However, as these tools significantly increase in number and become more sophisticated, it is more difficult to keep track of each tool's possibilities and understand their advantages and disadvantages. Knowing the best currently available genetic technology to answer a particular biological question is key to reach a higher standard in biomedical research. In this review, we list and discuss the main advantages and disadvantages of available mammalian genetic technology to analyze cardiovascular cell biology at higher cellular and molecular resolution. We start with the most simple and classical genetic approaches and end with the most advanced technology available to fluorescently label cells, conditionally target their genes, image their clonal expansion, and decode their lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rui Benedito
- Molecular Genetics of Angiogenesis Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
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29
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van der Kolk N, Wagner A, Wagner M, Waßmer B, Siebers B, Albers SV. Identification of XylR, the Activator of Arabinose/Xylose Inducible Regulon in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and Its Application for Homologous Protein Expression. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1066. [PMID: 32528450 PMCID: PMC7264815 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The thermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius can use different carbon sources for growth, including the pentoses D-xylose and L-arabinose. In this study, we identified the activator XylR (saci_2116) responsible for the transcriptional regulation of the pentose transporter and pentose metabolizing genes in S. acidocaldarius. A xylR deletion mutant showed growth retardation on D-xylose/L-arabinose containing media and the lack of transcription of the respective ABC transporter. In contrast to so far used promoters for expression in S. acidocaldarius, the xylR responsive promoters have a very low background activity. Finally, two XylR dependent promoters next to the long-established maltose inducible promotor were used to construct a high-throughput expression vector system for S. acidocaldarius to efficiently clone and express proteins in S. acidocaldarius.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nienke van der Kolk
- Institute of Biology II, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Wagner
- Institute of Biology II, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Michaela Wagner
- Institute of Biology II, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Biotechnologie, Hochschule Niederrhein, Krefeld, Germany
| | - Bianca Waßmer
- Institute of Biology II, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bettina Siebers
- Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Institute of Biology II, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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30
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Malavia D, Gow NAR, Usher J. Advances in Molecular Tools and In Vivo Models for the Study of Human Fungal Pathogenesis. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E803. [PMID: 32466582 PMCID: PMC7356103 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8060803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic fungi represent an increasing infectious disease threat to humans, especially with an increasing challenge of antifungal drug resistance. Over the decades, numerous tools have been developed to expedite the study of pathogenicity, initiation of disease, drug resistance and host-pathogen interactions. In this review, we highlight advances that have been made in the use of molecular tools using CRISPR technologies, RNA interference and transposon targeted mutagenesis. We also discuss the use of animal models in modelling disease of human fungal pathogens, focusing on zebrafish, the silkworm, Galleria mellonella and the murine model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jane Usher
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK; (D.M.); (N.A.R.G.)
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31
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Port F, Strein C, Stricker M, Rauscher B, Heigwer F, Zhou J, Beyersdörffer C, Frei J, Hess A, Kern K, Lange L, Langner N, Malamud R, Pavlović B, Rädecke K, Schmitt L, Voos L, Valentini E, Boutros M. A large-scale resource for tissue-specific CRISPR mutagenesis in Drosophila. eLife 2020; 9:e53865. [PMID: 32053108 PMCID: PMC7062466 DOI: 10.7554/elife.53865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic screens are powerful tools for the functional annotation of genomes. In the context of multicellular organisms, interrogation of gene function is greatly facilitated by methods that allow spatial and temporal control of gene abrogation. Here, we describe a large-scale transgenic short guide (sg) RNA library for efficient CRISPR-based disruption of specific target genes in a constitutive or conditional manner. The library consists currently of more than 2600 plasmids and 1700 fly lines with a focus on targeting kinases, phosphatases and transcription factors, each expressing two sgRNAs under control of the Gal4/UAS system. We show that conditional CRISPR mutagenesis is robust across many target genes and can be efficiently employed in various somatic tissues, as well as the germline. In order to prevent artefacts commonly associated with excessive amounts of Cas9 protein, we have developed a series of novel UAS-Cas9 transgenes, which allow fine tuning of Cas9 expression to achieve high gene editing activity without detectable toxicity. Functional assays, as well as direct sequencing of genomic sgRNA target sites, indicates that the vast majority of transgenic sgRNA lines mediate efficient gene disruption. Furthermore, we conducted the so far largest fully transgenic CRISPR screen in any metazoan organism, which further supported the high efficiency and accuracy of our library and revealed many so far uncharacterized genes essential for development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fillip Port
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Claudia Strein
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Mona Stricker
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Benedikt Rauscher
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Florian Heigwer
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Jun Zhou
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Celine Beyersdörffer
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Jana Frei
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Amy Hess
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Katharina Kern
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Laura Lange
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Nora Langner
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Roberta Malamud
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Bojana Pavlović
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Kristin Rädecke
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Lukas Schmitt
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Lukas Voos
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Erica Valentini
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - Michael Boutros
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
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32
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Gordon ZB, Soltysiak MPM, Leichthammer C, Therrien JA, Meaney RS, Lauzon C, Adams M, Lee DK, Janakirama P, Lachance MA, Karas BJ. Development of a Transformation Method for Metschnikowia borealis and other CUG-Serine Yeasts. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E78. [PMID: 30678093 DOI: 10.3390/genes10020078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Yeasts belonging to the Metschnikowia genus are particularly interesting for the unusual formation of only two needle-shaped ascospores during their mating cycle. Presently, the meiotic process that can lead to only two spores from a diploid zygote is poorly understood. The expression of fluorescent nuclear proteins should allow the meiotic process to be visualized in vivo; however, no large-spored species of Metschnikowia has ever been transformed. Accordingly, we aimed to develop a transformation method for Metschnikowia borealis, a particularly large-spored species of Metschnikowia, with the goal of enabling the genetic manipulations required to study biological processes in detail. Genetic analyses confirmed that M. borealis, and many other Metschnikowia species, are CUG-Ser yeasts. Codon-optimized selectable markers lacking CUG codons were used to successfully transform M. borealis by electroporation and lithium acetate, and transformants appeared to be the result of random integration. Mating experiments confirmed that transformed-strains were capable of generating large asci and undergoing recombination. Finally, random integration was used to transform an additional 21 yeast strains, and all attempts successfully generated transformants. The results provide a simple method to transform many yeasts from an array of different clades and can be used to study or develop many species for various applications.
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33
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Ressurreição M, Warrington S, Strutt D. Rapid Disruption of Dishevelled Activity Uncovers an Intercellular Role in Maintenance of Prickle in Core Planar Polarity Protein Complexes. Cell Rep 2018; 25:1415-1424.e6. [PMID: 30403998 PMCID: PMC6231328 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.10.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Planar polarity, the coordinated polarization of cells in the plane of a tissue, is important for normal tissue development and function. Proteins of the core planar polarity pathway become asymmetrically localized at the junctions between cells to form intercellular complexes that coordinate planar polarity between cell neighbors. Here, we combine tools to rapidly disrupt the activity of the core planar polarity protein Dishevelled, with quantitative measurements of protein dynamics and levels, and mosaic analysis, to investigate Dishevelled function in maintenance of planar polarity. We provide mechanistic insight into the hierarchical relationship of Dishevelled with other members of the core planar polarity complex. Notably, we show that removal of Dishevelled in one cell causes rapid release of Prickle into the cytoplasm in the neighboring cell. This release of Prickle generates a self-propagating wave of planar polarity complex destabilization across the tissue. Thus, Dishevelled actively maintains complex integrity across intercellular junctions. Inducible genetic tools can efficiently disrupt Dishevelled activity in vivo Dishevelled activity continuously promotes core planar polarity complex stability Prickle is maintained in intercellular complexes cell non-autonomously by Dishevelled Unbound Prickle results in intercellular propagation of complex destabilization
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarida Ressurreição
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Samantha Warrington
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - David Strutt
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
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Xiao Y, Wang S, Rommelfanger S, Balassy A, Barba-Ostria C, Gu P, Galazka JM, Zhang F. Developing a Cas9-based tool to engineer native plasmids in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Biotechnol Bioeng 2018; 115:2305-2314. [PMID: 29896914 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The oxygenic photosynthetic bacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (S6803) is a model cyanobacterium widely used for fundamental research and biotechnology applications. Due to its polyploidy, existing methods for genome engineering of S6803 require multiple rounds of selection to modify all genome copies, which is time-consuming and inefficient. In this study, we engineered the Cas9 tool for one-step, segregation-free genome engineering. We further used our Cas9 tool to delete three of seven S6803 native plasmids. Our results show that all three small-size native plasmids, but not the large-size native plasmids, can be deleted with this tool. To further facilitate heterologous gene expression in S6803, a shuttle vector based on the native plasmid pCC5.2 was created. The shuttle vector can be introduced into Cas9-containing S6803 in one step without requiring segregation and can be stably maintained without antibiotic pressure for at least 30 days. Moreover, genes encoded on the shuttle vector remain functional after 30 days of continuous cultivation without selective pressure. Thus, this study provides a set of new tools for rapid modification of the S6803 genome and for stable expression of heterologous genes, potentially facilitating both fundamental research and biotechnology applications using S6803.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xiao
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missori
- Present address: State Key Laboratory for Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shaojie Wang
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missori
| | - Sarah Rommelfanger
- Division of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missori
| | - Andrea Balassy
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missori
| | - Carlos Barba-Ostria
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missori
- Present address: Department of Health Sciences, Ambato Technical University, Ambato, Ecuador
| | - Pengfei Gu
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missori
| | - Jonathan M Galazka
- Space Biosciences Division, Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Mountain View, California
| | - Fuzhong Zhang
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missori
- Division of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missori
- Institute of Materials Science & Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Misssori
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35
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Freed E, Fenster J, Smolinski SL, Walker J, Henard CA, Gill R, Eckert CA. Building a genome engineering toolbox in nonmodel prokaryotic microbes. Biotechnol Bioeng 2018; 115:2120-2138. [PMID: 29750332 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The realization of a sustainable bioeconomy requires our ability to understand and engineer complex design principles for the development of platform organisms capable of efficient conversion of cheap and sustainable feedstocks (e.g., sunlight, CO2 , and nonfood biomass) into biofuels and bioproducts at sufficient titers and costs. For model microbes, such as Escherichia coli, advances in DNA reading and writing technologies are driving the adoption of new paradigms for engineering biological systems. Unfortunately, microbes with properties of interest for the utilization of cheap and renewable feedstocks, such as photosynthesis, autotrophic growth, and cellulose degradation, have very few, if any, genetic tools for metabolic engineering. Therefore, it is important to develop "design rules" for building a genetic toolbox for novel microbes. Here, we present an overview of our current understanding of these rules for the genetic manipulation of prokaryotic microbes and the available genetic tools to expand our ability to genetically engineer nonmodel systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Freed
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Biosciences Center, Golden, CO.,Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
| | - Jacob Fenster
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.,Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
| | | | - Julie Walker
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
| | - Calvin A Henard
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Bioenergy Center, Golden, CO
| | - Ryan Gill
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Biosciences Center, Golden, CO.,Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.,Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
| | - Carrie A Eckert
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Biosciences Center, Golden, CO.,Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
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36
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Abstract
An increasing number of studies have strongly correlated the composition of the human microbiota with many human health conditions and, in several cases, have shown that manipulating the microbiota directly affects health. These insights have generated significant interest in engineering indigenous microbiota community members and nonresident probiotic bacteria as biotic diagnostics and therapeutics that can probe and improve human health. In this review, we discuss recent advances in synthetic biology to engineer commensal and probiotic lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria, and Bacteroides for these purposes, and we provide our perspective on the future potential of these technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef R Bober
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA;
| | - Chase L Beisel
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA;
| | - Nikhil U Nair
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA;
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37
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Revaitis NT, Marmion RA, Farhat M, Ekiz V, Wang W, Yakoby N. Simple Expression Domains Are Regulated by Discrete CRMs During Drosophila Oogenesis. G3 (Bethesda) 2017; 7:2705-18. [PMID: 28634244 DOI: 10.1534/g3.117.043810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Eggshell patterning has been extensively studied in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the cis-regulatory modules (CRMs), which control spatiotemporal expression of these patterns, are vastly unexplored. The FlyLight collection contains >7000 intergenic and intronic DNA fragments that, if containing CRMs, can drive the transcription factor GAL4. We cross-listed the 84 genes known to be expressed during D. melanogaster oogenesis with the ∼1200 listed genes of the FlyLight collection, and found 22 common genes that are represented by 281 FlyLight fly lines. Of these lines, 54 show expression patterns during oogenesis when crossed to an UAS-GFP reporter. Of the 54 lines, 16 recapitulate the full or partial pattern of the associated gene pattern. Interestingly, while the average DNA fragment size is ∼3 kb in length, the vast majority of fragments show one type of spatiotemporal pattern in oogenesis. Mapping the distribution of all 54 lines, we found a significant enrichment of CRMs in the first intron of the associated genes’ model. In addition, we demonstrate the use of different anteriorly active FlyLight lines as tools to disrupt eggshell patterning in a targeted manner. Our screen provides further evidence that complex gene patterns are assembled combinatorially by different CRMs controlling the expression of genes in simple domains.
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38
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van Niftrik L, Devos DP. Editorial: Planctomycetes-Verrucomicrobia-Chlamydiae Bacterial Superphylum: New Model Organisms for Evolutionary Cell Biology. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1458. [PMID: 28824586 PMCID: PMC5539593 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Laura van Niftrik
- Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud UniversityNijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Damien P Devos
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo-CSIC, Universidad Pablo de OlavideSeville, Spain
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39
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common cancer in men, but variable clinical behaviors make its management challenging. Risk stratification is a key issue in disease management. Patient-tailored strategies are strongly advocated to reduce unnecessary treatment while maximizing the oncological outcomes of patient who need active treatment in the primary, adjuvant or salvage setting. Recently, tissue-based biomarkers or genomic tests have become available to improve the clinical decision-making. Areas covered: In this review, the authors present recent evidence about these tissue-based biomarkers, discussing the application of each of them in the clinical setting, focusing on the tests aimed to provide a better risk stratification and to guide decision-making after the diagnosis of PCa (i.e. OncotypeDXⓇ, ProlarisⓇ, ProMarkⓇ, Ki-67, DecipherⓇ, PTEN, PORTOS, AR-V7 and DNA repair gene mutations). Expert commentary: Even if the clinicopathologic features are still the most frequently-used predictors of disease progression, these tools can be helpful in decision-making at every stage of the PCa management. Actually, OncotypeDXⓇ, ProlarisⓇ and DecipherⓇ are recommended in the clinical setting by guidelines at different steps of PCa management. Consequently, further studies are indispensable to better tailor the right therapy for the right patient and at the right time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Colicchia
- a Department of Urology , Mayo Clinic Rochester , Rochester , MN , USA
| | - Alessandro Morlacco
- b Department of Surgical Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences , Urology University of Padua , Padua , Italy
| | - John C Cheville
- c Department of Pathology , Mayo Clinic and Mayo Medical School , Rochester , MN , USA
| | - R Jeffrey Karnes
- a Department of Urology , Mayo Clinic Rochester , Rochester , MN , USA
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40
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Abstract
Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius is a Gram-positive thermophile of industrial interest that exhibits rapid growth and can utilize a variety of plant-derived feedstocks. It is an attractive chassis organism for high temperature biotechnology and synthetic biology applications but is currently limited by a lack of available genetic tools. Here we describe a set of modular shuttle vectors, including a promoter library and reporter proteins. The compact plasmids are composed of interchangeable modules for molecular cloning in Escherichia coli and stable propagation in G. thermoglucosidasius and other Geobacillus species. Modules include two origins of replication, two selectable markers and three reporter proteins for characterization of gene expression. For fine-tuning heterologous expression from these plasmids, we include a characterized promoter library and test ribosome binding site design. Together, these gene expression tools and a standardized plasmid set can facilitate modularity and part exchange to make Geobacillus a thermophile chassis for synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Reeve
- Centre
for Synthetic Biology
and Innovation, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Elena Martinez-Klimova
- Centre
for Synthetic Biology
and Innovation, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Joachim de Jonghe
- Centre
for Synthetic Biology
and Innovation, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - David J. Leak
- Centre
for Synthetic Biology
and Innovation, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Tom Ellis
- Centre
for Synthetic Biology
and Innovation, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
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41
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Pawar SV, Messina M, Rinaldo S, Cutruzzolà F, Kaever V, Rampioni G, Leoni L. Novel genetic tools to tackle c-di-GMP-dependent signalling in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Appl Microbiol 2016; 120:205-17. [PMID: 26497534 DOI: 10.1111/jam.12984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To develop new genetic tools for studying 3',5'-cyclic diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP) signalling in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. METHODS AND RESULTS Plasmid pPcdrA::lux, carrying a transcriptional fusion between the c-di-GMP responsive promoter PcdrA and the luxCDABE reporter genes, has been generated and validated in purpose-built P. aeruginosa strains in which c-di-GMP levels can be increased or reduced upon arabinose-dependent induction of c-di-GMP synthetizing or degrading enzymes. CONCLUSIONS The reporter systems described so far were able to detect a decrease in the c-di-GMP levels only in engineered strains overproducing c-di-GMP. Conversely, pPcdrA::lux could be used for studying any process or chemical compound expected to cause both an increase or a decrease with respect to the c-di-GMP levels produced by wild type P. aeruginosa. Another relevant aspect of this study has been the development of novel and improved genetic devices for the fine arabinose-dependent control of c-di-GMP levels in P. aeruginosa. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The genetic tools developed and validated in this study could facilitate investigations tackling the c-di-GMP signalling process on different fields, from cellular physiology to drug-discovery research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M Messina
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
| | - S Rinaldo
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - F Cutruzzolà
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - V Kaever
- Research Core Unit Metabolomics, Institute of Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - G Rampioni
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
| | - L Leoni
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
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42
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Karademir Andersson A, Oredsson S, Cohn M. Development of stable haploid strains and molecular genetic tools for Naumovozyma castellii (Saccharomyces castellii). Yeast 2016; 33:633-646. [PMID: 27669110 DOI: 10.1002/yea.3213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Revised: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The budding yeast Naumovozyma castellii (syn. Saccharomyces castellii) has been included in comparative genomics studies and functional analyses of centromere DNA elements, and has been shown to possess beneficial traits for telomere biology research. To provide useful tools for molecular genetic approaches, we produced stable haploid heterothallic strains from an early ancestral strain derived from the N. castellii collection strain CBS 4310. To this end, we deleted the gene encoding the Ho endonuclease, which is essential for the mating type switching. Gene replacement of HO with the kanMX3 resistance cassette was performed in diploid strains, followed by sporulation and tetrad microdissection of the haploid spores. The mating type (MATa or MATα) was determined for each hoΔ mutant, and was stable under sporulation-inducing conditions, showing that the switching system was totally non-functional. The hoΔstrains showed wild-type growth rates and were successfully transformed with linear DNA using the general protocol. Opposite mating types of the hoΔstrains were mated, resulting in diploid cells that efficiently formed asci and generated viable spores when microdissected. By introduction of a point mutation in the URA3 gene, we created a uracil auxotrophic strain, and by exchanging the kanMX3 cassette for the hphMX4 cassette we show that hygromycin B resistance can be used as a selection marker in N. castellii. These haploid strains containing genetic markers will be useful tools for performing genetic analyses in N. castellii. Moreover, we demonstrate that homology regions of 200-230 bp can be successfully used for target site-specific integration into genomic loci. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stina Oredsson
- Department of Biology, Functional zoology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Marita Cohn
- Department of Biology, Genetics group, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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43
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Diner RE, Bielinski VA, Dupont CL, Allen AE, Weyman PD. Refinement of the Diatom Episome Maintenance Sequence and Improvement of Conjugation-Based DNA Delivery Methods. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2016; 4:65. [PMID: 27551676 PMCID: PMC4976089 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2016.00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Conjugation of episomal plasmids from bacteria to diatoms advances diatom genetic manipulation by simplifying transgene delivery and providing a stable and consistent gene expression platform. To reach its full potential, this nascent technology requires new optimized expression vectors and a deeper understanding of episome maintenance. Here, we present the development of an additional diatom vector (pPtPBR1), based on the parent plasmid pBR322, to add a plasmid maintained at medium copy number in Escherichia coli to the diatom genetic toolkit. Using this new vector, we evaluated the contribution of individual yeast DNA elements comprising the 1.4-kb tripartite CEN6-ARSH4-HIS3 sequence that enables episome maintenance in Phaeodactylum tricornutum. While various combinations of these individual elements enable efficient conjugation and high exconjugant yield in P. tricornutum, individual elements alone do not. Conjugation of episomes containing CEN6-ARSH4 and a small sequence from the low GC content 3' end of HIS3 produced the highest number of diatom exconjugant colonies, resulting in a smaller and more efficient vector design. Our findings suggest that the CEN6 and ARSH4 sequences function differently in yeast and diatoms, and that low GC content regions of greater than ~500 bp are a potential indicator of a functional diatom episome maintenance sequence. Additionally, we have developed improvements to the conjugation protocol including a high-throughput option utilizing 12-well plates and plating methods that improve exconjugant yield and reduce time and materials required for the conjugation protocol. The data presented offer additional information regarding the mechanism by which the yeast-derived sequence enables diatom episome maintenance and demonstrate options for flexible vector design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E Diner
- Microbial and Environmental Genomics Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA; Integrative Oceanography Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Vincent A Bielinski
- Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy Group, J. Craig Venter Institute , La Jolla, CA , USA
| | - Christopher L Dupont
- Microbial and Environmental Genomics Group, J. Craig Venter Institute , La Jolla, CA , USA
| | - Andrew E Allen
- Microbial and Environmental Genomics Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA; Integrative Oceanography Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Philip D Weyman
- Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy Group, J. Craig Venter Institute , La Jolla, CA , USA
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44
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Abstract
Since the annotation of its genome a decade ago, the dog has proven to be an excellent model for the study of inherited diseases. A large variety of spontaneous simple and complex phenotypes occur in dogs, providing physiologically relevant models to corresponding human conditions. In addition, gene discovery is facilitated in clinically less heterogeneous purebred dogs with closed population structures because smaller study cohorts and fewer markers are often sufficient to expose causal variants. Here, we review the development of genomic resources from microsatellites to whole-genome sequencing and give examples of successful findings that have followed the technological progress. The increasing amount of whole-genome sequence data warrants better functional annotation of the canine genome to more effectively utilise this unique model to understand genetic contributions in morphological, behavioural and other complex traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- F G van Steenbeek
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 104, 3508 TD, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - M K Hytönen
- Research Programs Unit, Molecular Neurology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences 00014, Folkhälsan Research Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - P A J Leegwater
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 104, 3508 TD, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - H Lohi
- Research Programs Unit, Molecular Neurology, Department of Veterinary Biosciences 00014, Folkhälsan Research Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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45
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Rivas-Marín E, Canosa I, Santero E, Devos DP. Development of Genetic Tools for the Manipulation of the Planctomycetes. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:914. [PMID: 27379046 PMCID: PMC4910669 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria belonging to the Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia, Chlamydiae (PVC) superphylum are of interest for biotechnology, evolutionary cell biology, ecology, and human health. Some PVC species lack a number of typical bacterial features while others possess characteristics that are usually more associated to eukaryotes or archaea. For example, the Planctomycetes phylum is atypical for the absence of the FtsZ protein and for the presence of a developed endomembrane system. Studies of the cellular and molecular biology of these infrequent characteristics are currently limited due to the lack of genetic tools for most of the species. So far, genetic manipulation in Planctomycetes has been described in Planctopirus limnophila only. Here, we show a simple approach that allows mutagenesis by homologous recombination in three different planctomycetes species (i.e., Gemmata obscuriglobus, Gimesia maris, and Blastopirellula marina), in addition to P. limnophila, thus extending the repertoire of genetically modifiable organisms in this superphylum. Although the Planctomycetes show high resistance to most antibiotics, we have used kanamycin resistance genes in G. obscuriglobus, P. limnophila, and G. maris, and tetracycline resistance genes in B. marina, as markers for mutant selection. In all cases, plasmids were introduced in the strains by mating or electroporation, and the genetic modification was verified by Southern Blotting analysis. In addition, we show that the green fluorescent protein (gfp) is expressed in all four backgrounds from an Escherichia coli promoter. The genetic manipulation achievement in four phylogenetically diverse planctomycetes will enable molecular studies in these strains, and opens the door to developing genetic approaches not only in other planctomycetes but also other species of the superphylum, such as the Lentisphaerae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Rivas-Marín
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Innovations, Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Pablo de Olavide Seville, Spain
| | - Inés Canosa
- Microbiology Area, Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Pablo de Olavide Seville, Spain
| | - Eduardo Santero
- Microbiology Area, Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Pablo de Olavide Seville, Spain
| | - Damien P Devos
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Innovations, Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Pablo de Olavide Seville, Spain
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46
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Englund E, Andersen-Ranberg J, Miao R, Hamberger B, Lindberg P. Metabolic Engineering of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 for Production of the Plant Diterpenoid Manoyl Oxide. ACS Synth Biol 2015; 4:1270-8. [PMID: 26133196 PMCID: PMC4685428 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.5b00070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Forskolin is a high value diterpenoid with a broad range of pharmaceutical applications, naturally found in root bark of the plant Coleus forskohlii. Because of its complex molecular structure, chemical synthesis of forskolin is not commercially attractive. Hence, the labor and resource intensive extraction and purification from C. forskohlii plants remains the current source of the compound. We have engineered the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to produce the forskolin precursor 13R-manoyl oxide (13R-MO), paving the way for light driven biotechnological production of this high value compound. In the course of this work, a new series of integrative vectors for use in Synechocystis was developed and used to create stable lines expressing chromosomally integrated CfTPS2 and CfTPS3, the enzymes responsible for the formation of 13R-MO in C. forskohlii. The engineered strains yielded production titers of up to 0.24 mg g(-1) DCW 13R-MO. To increase the yield, 13R-MO producing strains were further engineered by introduction of selected enzymes from C. forskohlii, improving the titer to 0.45 mg g(-1) DCW. This work forms a basis for further development of production of complex plant diterpenoids in cyanobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Englund
- Department
of Chemistry-Ångström, Uppsala University, Box 523, SE-751
20 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan Andersen-Ranberg
- Department
of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Center for Synthetic Biology
bioSYNergy, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej
40, 1871 Frederiksberg
C, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rui Miao
- Department
of Chemistry-Ångström, Uppsala University, Box 523, SE-751
20 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Björn Hamberger
- Department
of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Center for Synthetic Biology
bioSYNergy, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej
40, 1871 Frederiksberg
C, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pia Lindberg
- Department
of Chemistry-Ångström, Uppsala University, Box 523, SE-751
20 Uppsala, Sweden
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47
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Harris JA, Hirokawa KE, Sorensen SA, Gu H, Mills M, Ng LL, Bohn P, Mortrud M, Ouellette B, Kidney J, Smith KA, Dang C, Sunkin S, Bernard A, Oh SW, Madisen L, Zeng H. Anatomical characterization of Cre driver mice for neural circuit mapping and manipulation. Front Neural Circuits 2014; 8:76. [PMID: 25071457 PMCID: PMC4091307 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2014.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 272] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2014] [Accepted: 06/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Significant advances in circuit-level analyses of the brain require tools that allow for labeling, modulation of gene expression, and monitoring and manipulation of cellular activity in specific cell types and/or anatomical regions. Large-scale projects and individual laboratories have produced hundreds of gene-specific promoter-driven Cre mouse lines invaluable for enabling genetic access to subpopulations of cells in the brain. However, the potential utility of each line may not be fully realized without systematic whole brain characterization of transgene expression patterns. We established a high-throughput in situ hybridization (ISH), imaging and data processing pipeline to describe whole brain gene expression patterns in Cre driver mice. Currently, anatomical data from over 100 Cre driver lines are publicly available via the Allen Institute's Transgenic Characterization database, which can be used to assist researchers in choosing the appropriate Cre drivers for functional, molecular, or connectional studies of different regions and/or cell types in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hong Gu
- Allen Institute for Brain Science Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Maya Mills
- Allen Institute for Brain Science Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lydia L Ng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Phillip Bohn
- Allen Institute for Brain Science Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Chinh Dang
- Allen Institute for Brain Science Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Susan Sunkin
- Allen Institute for Brain Science Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Amy Bernard
- Allen Institute for Brain Science Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Hongkui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science Seattle, WA, USA
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Braggio E, Albarracín Garramuño F. [ Genetic tools for risk-stratification in multiple myeloma]. Medicina (B Aires) 2013; 73:369-375. [PMID: 23924539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic studies have a central role in the study of multiple myeloma (MM), as they become a critical component in the risk-based stratification of the disease. Significant efforts have been made to identify genetic changes and signatures that can predict clinical outcome and include them in the routine clinical care. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) still remains the most used genetic technique in clinical practice, mostly due to its very straightforward implementation and the simplicity of data analysis. The advent of high-resolution genomics (i.e. array CGH, exome and whole genome sequencing) and transcriptomics tests (i.e. gene expression profiling - GEP, and mRNA sequencing) provide a comprehensive analysis of the already defined genetic prognostic factors and are helpful tools for the identification of potential novel disease markers on the MM tumor clone. Indeed, GEP has been successfully implemented in MM as a risk-stratification tool, holding the greatest power in outcome discrimination. Nevertheless, some technical and logistic intricacies (need of a highly purified tumor clone, cost of the assay and complexity of data analysis) need to be considered before the definitive incorporation of high-throughput technologies in routine clinical tests. Until then, FISH remains the standard tool for genomic abnormality detection and disease prognostication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban Braggio
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
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