1
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Wang S, Chen CY, Rzasa JR, Tsao CY, Li J, VanArsdale E, Kim E, Zakaria FR, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Redox-enabled electronic interrogation and feedback control of hierarchical and networked biological systems. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8514. [PMID: 38129428 PMCID: PMC10739708 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44223-w] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Microelectronic devices can directly communicate with biology, as electronic information can be transmitted via redox reactions within biological systems. By engineering biology's native redox networks, we enable electronic interrogation and control of biological systems at several hierarchical levels: proteins, cells, and cell consortia. First, electro-biofabrication facilitates on-device biological component assembly. Then, electrode-actuated redox data transmission and redox-linked synthetic biology allows programming of enzyme activity and closed-loop electrogenetic control of cellular function. Specifically, horseradish peroxidase is assembled onto interdigitated electrodes where electrode-generated hydrogen peroxide controls its activity. E. coli's stress response regulon, oxyRS, is rewired to enable algorithm-based feedback control of gene expression, including an eCRISPR module that switches cell-cell quorum sensing communication from one autoinducer to another-creating an electronically controlled 'bilingual' cell. Then, these disparate redox-guided devices are wirelessly connected, enabling real-time communication and user-based control. We suggest these methodologies will help us to better understand and develop sophisticated control for biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Wang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Chen
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - John R Rzasa
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Jinyang Li
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Eric VanArsdale
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
- National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate, United States Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Eunkyoung Kim
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Fauziah Rahma Zakaria
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA.
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2
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Hu P, Ly KL, Pham LPH, Pottash AE, Sheridan K, Wu HC, Tsao CY, Quan D, Bentley WE, Rubloff GW, Sintim HO, Luo X. Bacterial chemotaxis in static gradients quantified in a biopolymer membrane-integrated microfluidic platform. Lab Chip 2022; 22:3203-3216. [PMID: 35856590 PMCID: PMC9756273 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00481j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Chemotaxis is a fundamental bacterial response mechanism to changes in chemical gradients of specific molecules known as chemoattractant or chemorepellent. The advancement of biological platforms for bacterial chemotaxis research is of significant interest for a wide range of biological and environmental studies. Many microfluidic devices have been developed for its study, but challenges still remain that can obscure analysis. For example, cell migration can be compromised by flow-induced shear stress, and bacterial motility can be impaired by nonspecific cell adhesion to microchannels. Also, devices can be complicated, expensive, and hard to assemble. We address these issues with a three-channel microfluidic platform integrated with natural biopolymer membranes that are assembled in situ. This provides several unique attributes. First, a static, steady and robust chemoattractant gradient was generated and maintained. Second, because the assembly incorporates assembly pillars, the assembled membrane arrays connecting nearby pillars can be created longer than the viewing window, enabling a wide 2D area for study. Third, the in situ assembled biopolymer membranes minimize pressure and/or chemiosmotic gradients that could induce flow and obscure chemotaxis study. Finally, nonspecific cell adhesion is avoided by priming the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannel surfaces with Pluronic F-127. We demonstrated chemotactic migration of Escherichia coli as well as Pseudomonas aeruginosa under well-controlled easy-to-assemble glucose gradients. We characterized motility using the chemotaxis partition coefficient (CPC) and chemotaxis migration coefficient (CMC) and found our results consistent with other reports. Further, random walk trajectories of individual cells in simple bright field images were conveniently tracked and presented in rose plots. Velocities were calculated, again in agreement with previous literature. We believe the biopolymer membrane-integrated platform represents a facile and convenient system for robust quantitative assessment of cellular motility in response to various chemical cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piao Hu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia 20064, USA.
| | - Khanh L Ly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia 20064, USA
| | - Le P H Pham
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia 20064, USA.
| | - Alex E Pottash
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Kathleen Sheridan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia 20064, USA
| | - Hsuan-Chen Wu
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - David Quan
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Gary W Rubloff
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Herman O Sintim
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Xiaolong Luo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia 20064, USA.
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3
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Motabar D, Wang S, Tsao CY, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Protein G: β-galactosidase fusion protein for multi-modal bioanalytical applications. Biotechnol Prog 2022; 38:e3297. [PMID: 35976745 PMCID: PMC10078426 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.3297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
β-galactosidase (β-gal) is one of the most prevalent markers of gene expression. Its activity can be monitored via optical and fluorescence microscopy, electrochemistry, and many other ways after slight modification using protein engineering. Here, we have constructed a chimeric version that incorporates a streptococcal protein G domain at the N-terminus of β-gal that binds immunoglobins, namely IgG. This protein G:β-galactosidase fusion enables β-gal-based spectrophotometric and electrochemical measurements of IgG. Moreover, our results show linearity over an industrially relevant range. We demonstrate applicability with rapid spectroelectrochemical detection of IgG in several formats including using an electrochemical sensing interface that is rapidly assembled directly onto electrodes for incorporation into biohybrid devices. The fusion protein enables sensitive, linear, and rapid responses, and in our case, makes IgG measurements quite robust and simple, expanding the molecular diagnostics toolkit for biological measurement. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Motabar
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States.,Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States
| | - Sally Wang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States.,Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States.,Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States.,Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States.,Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States
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4
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Wang S, Tsao CY, Motabar D, Li J, Payne GF, Bentley WE. A Redox-Based Autoinduction Strategy to Facilitate Expression of 5xCys-Tagged Proteins for Electrobiofabrication. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:675729. [PMID: 34220759 PMCID: PMC8250426 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.675729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofabrication utilizes biological materials and biological means, or mimics thereof, for assembly. When interfaced with microelectronics, electrobiofabricated assemblies enable exquisite sensing and reporting capabilities. We recently demonstrated that thiolated polyethylene glycol (PEG-SH) could be oxidatively assembled into a thin disulfide crosslinked hydrogel at an electrode surface; with sufficient oxidation, extra sulfenic acid groups are made available for covalent, disulfide coupling to sulfhydryl groups of proteins or peptides. We intentionally introduced a polycysteine tag (5xCys-tag) consisting of five consecutive cysteine residues at the C-terminus of a Streptococcal protein G to enable its covalent coupling to an electroassembled PEG-SH film. We found, however, that its expression and purification from E. coli was difficult, owing to the extra cysteine residues. We developed a redox-based autoinduction methodology that greatly enhanced the yield, especially in the soluble fraction of E. coli extracts. The redox component involved the deletion of oxyRS, a global regulator of the oxidative stress response and the autoinduction component integrated a quorum sensing (QS) switch that keys the secreted QS autoinducer-2 to induction. Interestingly, both methods helped when independently employed and further, when used in combination (i.e., autodinduced oxyRS mutant) the results were best—we found the highest total yield and highest yield in the soluble fraction. We hypothesize that the production host was less prone to severe metabolic perturbations that might reduce yield or drive sequestration of the -tagged protein into inclusion bodies. We expect this methodology will be useful for the expression of many such Cys-tagged proteins, ultimately enabling a diverse array of functionalized devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Wang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Dana Motabar
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Jinyang Li
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States.,Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
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5
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Motabar D, Li J, Wang S, Tsao CY, Tong X, Wang LX, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Simple, rapidly electroassembled thiolated PEG-based sensor interfaces enable rapid interrogation of antibody titer and glycosylation. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 118:2744-2758. [PMID: 33851726 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Process conditions established during the development and manufacture of recombinant protein therapeutics dramatically impacts their quality and clinical efficacy. Technologies that enable rapid assessment of product quality are critically important. Here, we describe the development of sensor interfaces that directly connect to electronics and enable near real-time assessment of antibody titer and N-linked galactosylation. We make use of a spatially resolved electroassembled thiolated polyethylene glycol hydrogel that enables electroactivated disulfide linkages. For titer assessment, we constructed a cysteinylated protein G that can be linked to the thiolated hydrogel allowing for robust capture and assessment of antibody concentration. For detecting galactosylation, the hydrogel is linked with thiolated sugars and their corresponding lectins, which enables antibody capture based on glycan pattern. Importantly, we demonstrate linear assessment of total antibody concentration over an industrially relevant range and the selective capture and quantification of antibodies with terminal β-galactose glycans. We also show that the interfaces can be reused after surface regeneration using a low pH buffer. Our functionalized interfaces offer advantages in their simplicity, rapid assembly, connectivity to electronics, and reusability. As they assemble directly onto electrodes that also serve as I/O registers, we envision incorporation into diagnostic platforms including those in manufacturing settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Motabar
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.,Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Jinyang Li
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.,Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Sally Wang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.,Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.,Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Xin Tong
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Lai-Xi Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.,Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.,Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
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6
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Li J, Wang SP, Zong G, Kim E, Tsao CY, VanArsdale E, Wang LX, Bentley WE, Payne GF. Interactive Materials for Bidirectional Redox-Based Communication. Adv Mater 2021; 33:e2007758. [PMID: 33788338 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202007758] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Emerging research indicates that biology routinely uses diffusible redox-active molecules to mediate communication that can span biological systems (e.g., nervous and immune) and even kingdoms (e.g., a microbiome and its plant/animal host). This redox modality also provides new opportunities to create interactive materials that can communicate with living systems. Here, it is reported that the fabrication of a redox-active hydrogel film can autonomously synthesize a H2 O2 signaling molecule for communication with a bacterial population. Specifically, a catechol-conjugated/crosslinked 4-armed thiolated poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel film is electrochemically fabricated in which the added catechol moieties confer redox activity: the film can accept electrons from biological reductants (e.g., ascorbate) and donate electrons to O2 to generate H2 O2 . Electron-transfer from an Escherichia coli culture poises this film to generate the H2 O2 signaling molecule that can induce bacterial gene expression from a redox-responsive operon. Overall, this work demonstrates that catecholic materials can participate in redox-based interactions that elicit specific biological responses, and also suggests the possibility that natural phenolics may be a ubiquitous biological example of interactive materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyang Li
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Sally P Wang
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Guanghui Zong
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Eunkyoung Kim
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Eric VanArsdale
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Lai-Xi Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
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7
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Ahn SH, Rath M, Tsao CY, Bentley WE, Raghavan SR. Single-Step Synthesis of Alginate Microgels Enveloped with a Covalent Polymeric Shell: A Simple Way to Protect Encapsulated Cells. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2021; 13:18432-18442. [PMID: 33871957 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c20613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microgels of biopolymers such as alginate are widely used to encapsulate cells and other biological payloads. Alginate is an attractive material for cell encapsulation because it is nontoxic and convenient: spherical alginate gels are easily created by contacting aqueous droplets of sodium alginate with divalent cations such as Ca2+. Alginate chains in the gel become cross-linked by Ca2+ cations into a 3-D network. When alginate gels are placed in a buffer, however, the Ca2+ cross-links are eliminated by exchange with Na+, thereby weakening and degrading the gels. With time, encapsulated cells are released into the external solution. Here, we describe a simple solution to the above problem, which involves forming alginate gels enveloped by a thin shell of a covalently cross-linked gel. The shell is formed via free-radical polymerization using conventional monomers such as acrylamide (AAm) or acrylate derivatives, including polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA). The entire process is performed in a single step at room temperature (or 37 °C) under mild, aqueous conditions. It involves combining the alginate solution with a radical initiator, which is then introduced as droplets into a reservoir containing Ca2+ and monomers. Within minutes of either simple incubation or exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, the droplets are converted into alginate-polymer microcapsules with a core of alginate and a shell of the polymer (AAm or PEGDA). The microcapsules are mechanically more robust than conventional alginate/Ca2+ microgels, and while the latter swell and degrade when placed in buffers or in chelators like sodium citrate, the former remain stable under all conditions. We encapsulate both bacteria and mammalian cells in these microcapsules and find that the cells remain viable and functional over time. Lastly, a variation of the synthesis technique is shown to generate multilayered microcapsules with a liquid core surrounded by concentric layers of alginate and AAm gels. We anticipate that the approaches presented here will find application in a variety of areas including cell therapies, artificial cells, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Hyun Ahn
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Medha Rath
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - William E Bentley
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Srinivasa R Raghavan
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
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8
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Guan Y, Tsao CY, Quan DN, Li Y, Mei L, Song Y, Zhang B, Liu Y, Payne GF, Bentley WE, Wang Q. Focusing quorum sensing signalling by nano-magnetic assembly. Environ Microbiol 2019; 20:2585-2597. [PMID: 29806719 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) exists widely among bacteria, enabling a transition to multicellular behaviour after bacterial populations reach a particular density. The coordination of multicellularity enables biotechnological application, dissolution of biofilms, coordination of virulence, and so forth. Here, a method to elicit and subsequently disperse multicellular behaviour among QS-negative cells is developed using magnetic nanoparticle assembly. We fabricated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs, ∼5 nm) that electrostatically collect wild-type (WT) Escherichia coli BL21 cells and brings them into proximity of bioengineered E. coli [CT104 (W3110 lsrFG- luxS- pCT6 + pET-DsRed)] reporter cells that exhibit a QS response after receiving autoinducer-2 (AI-2). By shortening the distance between WT and reporter cells (e.g., increasing local available AI-2 concentrations), the QS response signalling was amplified four-fold compared to that in native conditions without assembly. This study suggests potential applications in facilitating intercellular communication and modulating multicellular behaviours based on user-specified designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongguang Guan
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - David N Quan
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Lei Mei
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Yingying Song
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Boce Zhang
- Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, 01854, USA
| | - Yi Liu
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Qin Wang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
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9
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Stephens K, Pozo M, Tsao CY, Hauk P, Bentley WE. Bacterial co-culture with cell signaling translator and growth controller modules for autonomously regulated culture composition. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4129. [PMID: 31511505 PMCID: PMC6739400 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12027-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering have expanded the possibilities for engineered cell-based systems. The addition of non-native biosynthetic and regulatory components can, however, overburden the reprogrammed cells. In order to avoid metabolic overload, an emerging area of focus is on engineering consortia, wherein cell subpopulations work together to carry out a desired function. This strategy requires regulation of the cell populations. Here, we design a synthetic co-culture controller consisting of cell-based signal translator and growth-controller modules that, when implemented, provide for autonomous regulation of the consortia composition. The system co-opts the orthogonal autoinducer AI-1 and AI-2 cell-cell signaling mechanisms of bacterial quorum sensing (QS) to enable cross-talk between strains and a QS signal-controlled growth rate controller to modulate relative population densities. We further develop a simple mathematical model that enables cell and system design for autonomous closed-loop control of population trajectories. To avoid metabolic overload and divide tasks, synthetic biologists are turning to microbial consortia engineering. Here the authors design a co-culture controller that autonomously regulates population composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Stephens
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 8278 Paint Branch Drive, 5102 Clark Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, 8278 Paint Branch Drive, 5102 Clark Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Maria Pozo
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 8278 Paint Branch Drive, 5102 Clark Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 8278 Paint Branch Drive, 5102 Clark Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, 8278 Paint Branch Drive, 5102 Clark Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Pricila Hauk
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 8278 Paint Branch Drive, 5102 Clark Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, 8278 Paint Branch Drive, 5102 Clark Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 8278 Paint Branch Drive, 5102 Clark Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA. .,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, 8278 Paint Branch Drive, 5102 Clark Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
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10
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VanArsdale E, Tsao CY, Liu Y, Chen CY, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Redox-Based Synthetic Biology Enables Electrochemical Detection of the Herbicides Dicamba and Roundup via Rewired Escherichia coli. ACS Sens 2019; 4:1180-1184. [PMID: 30990313 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.9b00085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [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] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic biology is typically exploited to endow bacterial cells with new biosynthetic capabilities. It can also serve to create "smart" bacteria such as probiotics that detect and treat disease. Here, we show how minimally rewiring the genetic regulation of bacterial cells can enable their ability to recognize and report on chemical herbicides, including those routinely used to clear weeds from gardens and crops. In so doing, we demonstrate how constructs of synthetic biology, in this case redox-based synthetic biology, can serve as a vector for information flow mediating molecular communication between biochemical systems and microelectronics. We coupled the common genetic reporter, β-galactosidase, with the E. coli superoxide response regulon promoter pSoxS, for detection of the herbicides dicamba and Roundup. Both herbicides activated our genetic construct in a concentration dependent manner. Results indicate robust detection using spectrophotometry, via the Miller assay, and electrochemistry using the enzymatic cleavage of 4-aminophenyl β-d-galactopyranoside into the redox active molecule p-aminophenol. We found that environmental components, in particular, the availability of glucose, are important factors for the cellular detection of dicamba. Importantly, both herbicides were detected at concentrations relevant for aquatic toxicity.
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11
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Li J, Maniar D, Qu X, Liu H, Tsao CY, Kim E, Bentley WE, Liu C, Payne GF. Coupling Self-Assembly Mechanisms to Fabricate Molecularly and Electrically Responsive Films. Biomacromolecules 2019; 20:969-978. [PMID: 30616349 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b01592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Biomacromolecules often possess information to self-assemble through low energy competing interactions which can make self-assembly responsive to environmental cues and can also confer dynamic properties. Here, we coupled self-assembling systems to create biofunctional multilayer films that can be cued to disassemble through either molecular or electrical signals. To create functional multilayers, we: (i) electrodeposited the pH-responsive self-assembling aminopolysaccharide chitosan, (ii) allowed the lectin Concanavalin A (ConA) to bind to the chitosan-coated electrode (presumably through electrostatic interactions), (iii) performed layer-by-layer self-assembly by sequential contacting with glycogen and ConA, and (iv) conferred biological (i.e., enzymatic) function by assembling glycoprotein (i.e., enzymes) to the ConA-terminated multilayer. Because the ConA tetramer dissociates at low pH, this multilayer can be triggered to disassemble by acidification. We demonstrate two approaches to induce acidification: (i) glucose oxidase can induce multilayer disassembly in response to molecular cues, and (ii) anodic reactions can induce multilayer disassembly in response to electrical cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyang Li
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research , University of Maryland , College Park , Maryland 20742 , United States.,Fischell Department of Bioengineering , University of Maryland , College Park , Maryland 20742 , United States
| | - Drishti Maniar
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research , University of Maryland , College Park , Maryland 20742 , United States.,Fischell Department of Bioengineering , University of Maryland , College Park , Maryland 20742 , United States
| | - Xue Qu
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering , East China University of Science and Technology , Shanghai , 200237 , China
| | - Huan Liu
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering , East China University of Science and Technology , Shanghai , 200237 , China
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research , University of Maryland , College Park , Maryland 20742 , United States.,Fischell Department of Bioengineering , University of Maryland , College Park , Maryland 20742 , United States
| | - Eunkyoung Kim
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research , University of Maryland , College Park , Maryland 20742 , United States
| | - William E Bentley
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research , University of Maryland , College Park , Maryland 20742 , United States.,Fischell Department of Bioengineering , University of Maryland , College Park , Maryland 20742 , United States
| | - Changsheng Liu
- Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering , East China University of Science and Technology , Shanghai , 200237 , China
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research , University of Maryland , College Park , Maryland 20742 , United States
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12
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Shang W, Liu Y, Kim E, Tsao CY, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Selective assembly and functionalization of miniaturized redox capacitor inside microdevices for microbial toxin and mammalian cell cytotoxicity analyses. Lab Chip 2018; 18:3578-3587. [PMID: 30351330 PMCID: PMC7046091 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00583d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
We report a novel strategy for bridging information transfer between electronics and biological systems within microdevices. This strategy relies on our "electrobiofabrication" toolbox that uses electrode-induced signals to assemble biopolymer films at spatially defined sites and then electrochemically "activates" the films for signal processing capabilities. Compared to conventional electrode surface modification approaches, our signal-guided assembly and activation strategy provides on-demand electrode functionalization, and greatly simplifies microfluidic sensor design and fabrication. Specifically, a chitosan film is selectively localized in a microdevice and is covalently modified with phenolic species. The redox active properties of the phenolic species enable the film to transduce molecular to electronic signals (i.e., "molectronic"). The resulting "molectronic" sensors are shown to facilitate the electrochemical analysis in real time of biomolecules, including small molecules and enzymes, to cell-based measurements such as cytotoxicity. We believe this strategy provides an alternative, simple, and promising avenue for connecting electronics to biological systems within microfluidic platforms, and eventually will enrich our abilities to study biology in a variety of contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wu Shang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 3102 A. James Clark Hall, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
| | - Yi Liu
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Eunkyoung Kim
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 3102 A. James Clark Hall, College Park, MD 20742, USA. and Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 3102 A. James Clark Hall, College Park, MD 20742, USA. and Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 3102 A. James Clark Hall, College Park, MD 20742, USA. and Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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13
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Liu Y, Wu HC, Bhokisham N, Li J, Hong KL, Quan DN, Tsao CY, Bentley WE, Payne GF. Biofabricating Functional Soft Matter Using Protein Engineering to Enable Enzymatic Assembly. Bioconjug Chem 2018; 29:1809-1822. [PMID: 29745651 PMCID: PMC7045599 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Biology often provides the inspiration for functional soft matter, but biology can do more: it can provide the raw materials and mechanisms for hierarchical assembly. Biology uses polymers to perform various functions, and biologically derived polymers can serve as sustainable, self-assembling, and high-performance materials platforms for life-science applications. Biology employs enzymes for site-specific reactions that are used to both disassemble and assemble biopolymers both to and from component parts. By exploiting protein engineering methodologies, proteins can be modified to make them more susceptible to biology's native enzymatic activities. They can be engineered with fusion tags that provide (short sequences of amino acids at the C- and/or N- termini) that provide the accessible residues for the assembling enzymes to recognize and react with. This "biobased" fabrication not only allows biology's nanoscale components (i.e., proteins) to be engineered, but also provides the means to organize these components into the hierarchical structures that are prevalent in life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hsuan-Chen Wu
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology , National Taiwan University , Taipei City , Taiwan
| | | | | | - Kai-Lin Hong
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology , National Taiwan University , Taipei City , Taiwan
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14
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Yan K, Liu Y, Guan Y, Bhokisham N, Tsao CY, Kim E, Shi XW, Wang Q, Bentley WE, Payne GF. Catechol-chitosan redox capacitor for added amplification in electrochemical immunoanalysis. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2018; 169:470-477. [PMID: 29852436 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.05.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Antibodies are common recognition elements for molecular detection but often the signals generated by their stoichiometric binding must be amplified to enhance sensitivity. Here, we report that an electrode coated with a catechol-chitosan redox capacitor can amplify the electrochemical signal generated from an alkaline phosphatase (AP) linked immunoassay. Specifically, the AP product p-aminophenol (PAP) undergoes redox-cycling in the redox capacitor to generate amplified oxidation currents. We estimate an 8-fold amplification associated with this redox-cycling in the capacitor (compared to detection by a bare electrode). Importantly, this capacitor-based amplification is generic and can be coupled to existing amplification approaches based on enzyme-linked catalysis or magnetic nanoparticle-based collection/concentration. Thus, the capacitor should enhance sensitivities in conventional immunoassays and also provide chemical to electrical signal transduction for emerging applications in molecular communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Yan
- School of Resource and Environmental Science, Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Sustainable Resource and Energy, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Yongguang Guan
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Narendranath Bhokisham
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Eunkyoung Kim
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Xiao-Wen Shi
- School of Resource and Environmental Science, Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Sustainable Resource and Energy, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China.
| | - Qin Wang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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15
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Virgile C, Hauk P, Wu HC, Shang W, Tsao CY, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Engineering bacterial motility towards hydrogen-peroxide. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196999. [PMID: 29750783 PMCID: PMC5947916 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biologists construct innovative genetic/biological systems to treat environmental, energy, and health problems. Many systems employ rewired cells for non-native product synthesis, while a few have employed the rewired cells as 'smart' devices with programmable function. Building on the latter, we developed a genetic construct to control and direct bacterial motility towards hydrogen peroxide, one of the body's immune response signaling molecules. A motivation for this work is the creation of cells that can target and autonomously treat disease, the latter signaled by hydrogen peroxide release. Bacteria naturally move towards a variety of molecular cues (e.g., nutrients) in the process of chemotaxis. In this work, we engineered bacteria to recognize and move towards hydrogen peroxide, a non-native chemoattractant and potential toxin. Our system exploits oxyRS, the native oxidative stress regulon of E. coli. We first demonstrated H2O2-mediated upregulation motility regulator, CheZ. Using transwell assays, we showed a two-fold increase in net motility towards H2O2. Then, using a 2D cell tracking system, we quantified bacterial motility descriptors including velocity, % running (of tumble/run motions), and a dynamic net directionality towards the molecular cue. In CheZ mutants, we found that increased H2O2 concentration (0-200 μM) and induction time resulted in increased running speeds, ultimately reaching the native E. coli wild-type speed of ~22 μm/s with a ~45-65% ratio of running to tumbling. Finally, using a microfluidic device with stable H2O2 gradients, we characterized responses and the potential for "programmed" directionality towards H2O2 in quiescent fluids. Overall, the synthetic biology framework and tracking analysis in this work will provide a framework for investigating controlled motility of E. coli and other 'smart' probiotics for signal-directed treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea Virgile
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Pricila Hauk
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Hsuan-Chen Wu
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wu Shang
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Gregory F. Payne
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - William E. Bentley
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
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16
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Rhoads MK, Hauk P, Terrell J, Tsao CY, Oh H, Raghavan SR, Mansy SS, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Incorporating LsrK AI-2 quorum quenching capability in a functionalized biopolymer capsule. Biotechnol Bioeng 2017; 115:278-289. [PMID: 28782813 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Antibacterial resistance is an issue of increasing severity as current antibiotics are losing their effectiveness and fewer antibiotics are being developed. New methods for combating bacterial virulence are required. Modulating molecular communication among bacteria can alter phenotype, including attachment to epithelia, biofilm formation, and even toxin production. Intercepting and modulating communication networks provide a means to attenuate virulence without directly interacting with the bacteria of interest. In this work, we target communication mediated by the quorum sensing (QS) bacterial autoinducer-2, AI-2. We have assembled a capsule of biological polymers alginate and chitosan, attached an AI-2 processing kinase, LsrK, and provided substrate, ATP, for enzymatic alteration of AI-2 in culture fluids. Correspondingly, AI-2 mediated QS activity is diminished. All components of this system are "biofabricated"-they are biologically derived and their assembly is accomplished using biological means. Initially, component quantities and kinetics were tested as assembled in microtiter plates. Subsequently, the identical components and assembly means were used to create the "artificial cell" capsules. The functionalized capsules, when introduced into populations of bacteria, alter the dynamics of the AI-2 bacterial communication, attenuating QS activated phenotypes. We envision the assembly of these and other capsules or similar materials, as means to alter QS activity in a biologically compatible manner and in many environments, including in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa K Rhoads
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.,Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Pricila Hauk
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.,Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Jessica Terrell
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.,Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.,Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Hyuntaek Oh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Srinivasa R Raghavan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Sheref S Mansy
- CIBIO-Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.,Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - William E Bentley
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.,Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
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17
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Shang W, Tsao CY, Luo X, Teodoro M, McKay R, Quan DN, Wu HC, Payne GF, Bentley WE. A simple and reusable bilayer membrane-based microfluidic device for the study of gradient-mediated bacterial behaviors. Biomicrofluidics 2017; 11:044114. [PMID: 28868107 PMCID: PMC5566557 DOI: 10.1063/1.4993438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
We have developed a user-friendly microfluidic device for the study of gradient-mediated bacterial behaviors, including chemotaxis. This device rapidly establishes linear concentration gradients by exploiting solute diffusion through porous membranes in the absence of convective flows. As such, the gradients are created rapidly and can be sustained for long time periods (e.g., hours), sufficient to evaluate cell phenotype. The device exploits a unique simple bilayer configuration that enables rapid setup and quick reproducible introduction of cells. Its reusability represents an additional advantage in that it need not be limited to settings with microfluidics expertise. We have successfully demonstrated the applicability of this tool in studying the chemotactic response of Escherichia coli to glucose. When coupled with our recent Python program, quantified metrics such as speed, ratio of tumble to run, and effective diffusivity can be obtained from slow frame rate videos. Moreover, we introduce a chemotaxis partition coefficient that conveniently scores swimming behavior on the single-cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Xiaolong Luo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, 20064, USA
| | | | | | | | - Hsuan-Chen Wu
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
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18
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Wu HC, Quan DN, Tsao CY, Liu Y, Terrell JL, Luo X, Yang JC, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Cover Image, Volume 114, Number 1, January 2017. Biotechnol Bioeng 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.26099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hsuan-Chen Wu
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology; National Taiwan University; Taipei City Taiwan
| | - David N. Quan
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research; University of Maryland; College Park 20742 Maryland
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering; University of Maryland; College Park Maryland
| | - Yi Liu
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research; University of Maryland; College Park 20742 Maryland
| | | | - Xiaolong Luo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering; Catholic University of America; Washington District of Columbia
| | - Jen-Chang Yang
- School of Dental Technology; Taipei Medical University; Taipei Taiwan
| | - Gregory F. Payne
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research; University of Maryland; College Park 20742 Maryland
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering; University of Maryland; College Park Maryland
| | - William E. Bentley
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research; University of Maryland; College Park 20742 Maryland
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering; University of Maryland; College Park Maryland
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19
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Bhokisham N, Pakhchanian H, Quan D, Tschirhart T, Tsao CY, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Modular construction of multi-subunit protein complexes using engineered tags and microbial transglutaminase. Metab Eng 2016; 38:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2016.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Revised: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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20
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Tschirhart T, Zhou XY, Ueda H, Tsao CY, Kim E, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Electrochemical Measurement of the β-Galactosidase Reporter from Live Cells: A Comparison to the Miller Assay. ACS Synth Biol 2016; 5:28-35. [PMID: 26542230 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.5b00073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [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: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In order to match our ability to conceive of and construct cells with enhanced function, we must concomitantly develop facile, real-time methods for elucidating performance. With these, new designs can be tested in silico and steps in construction incrementally validated. Electrochemical monitoring offers the above advantages largely because signal transduction stems from direct electron transfer, allowing for potentially quicker and more integrated measurements. One of the most common genetic reporters, β-galactosidase, can be measured both spectrophotometrically (Miller assay) and electrochemically. However, since the relationship between the two is not well understood, the electrochemical methods have not yet garnered the attention of biologists. With the aim of demonstrating the utility of an electrochemical measurement to the synthetic biology community, we created a genetic construct that interprets and reports (with β-galactosidase) on the concentration of the bacterial quorum sensing molecule autoinducer-2. In this work, we provide a correlation between electrochemical measurements and Miller Units. We show that the electrochemical assay works with both lysed and whole cells, allowing for the prediction of one from the other, and for continuous monitoring of cell response. We further present a conceptually simple and generalized mathematical model for cell-based β-galactosidase reporter systems that could aid in building and predicting a variety of synthetic biology constructs. This first-ever in-depth comparison and analysis aims to facilitate the use of electrochemical real-time monitoring in the field of synthetic biology as well as to facilitate the creation of constructs that can more easily communicate information to electronic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Tschirhart
- Fischell
Department of Bioengineering, §Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, ⊥Department of Mathematics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Xinyi Y. Zhou
- Fischell
Department of Bioengineering, §Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, ⊥Department of Mathematics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | | | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Fischell
Department of Bioengineering, §Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, ⊥Department of Mathematics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | | | - Gregory F. Payne
- Fischell
Department of Bioengineering, §Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, ⊥Department of Mathematics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - William E. Bentley
- Fischell
Department of Bioengineering, §Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, ⊥Department of Mathematics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
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21
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Terrell JL, Wu HC, Tsao CY, Barber NB, Servinsky MD, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Nano-guided cell networks as conveyors of molecular communication. Nat Commun 2015; 6:8500. [PMID: 26455828 PMCID: PMC4633717 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in nanotechnology have provided unprecedented physical means to sample molecular space. Living cells provide additional capability in that they identify molecules within complex environments and actuate function. We have merged cells with nanotechnology for an integrated molecular processing network. Here we show that an engineered cell consortium autonomously generates feedback to chemical cues. Moreover, abiotic components are readily assembled onto cells, enabling amplified and 'binned' responses. Specifically, engineered cell populations are triggered by a quorum sensing (QS) signal molecule, autoinducer-2, to express surface-displayed fusions consisting of a fluorescent marker and an affinity peptide. The latter provides means for attaching magnetic nanoparticles to fluorescently activated subpopulations for coalescence into colour-indexed output. The resultant nano-guided cell network assesses QS activity and conveys molecular information as a 'bio-litmus' in a manner read by simple optical means.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Terrell
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Hsuan-Chen Wu
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Nathan B Barber
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Matthew D Servinsky
- U.S. Army Research Laboratory, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, Maryland 20783, USA
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, 2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.,Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
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Luo X, Tsao CY, Wu HC, Quan DN, Payne GF, Rubloff GW, Bentley WE. Distal modulation of bacterial cell-cell signalling in a synthetic ecosystem using partitioned microfluidics. Lab Chip 2015; 15:1842-1851. [PMID: 25690330 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc00107b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The human gut is over a meter in length, liquid residence times span several hours. Recapitulating the human gut microbiome "on chip" holds promise to revolutionize therapeutic strategies for a variety of diseases, as well as for maintaining homeostasis in healthy individuals. A more refined understanding of bacterial-bacterial and bacterial-epithelial cell signalling is envisioned and such a device is a key enabler. Indeed, significant advances in the study of bacterial cell-cell signalling have been reported, including at length and time scales of the cells and their responses. Few reports exist, however, where signalling events that span physiologically relevant time scales are monitored and coordinated. Here, we employ principles of biofabrication to assemble, in situ, cell communities that are (i) spatially adjacent within partitioned microchannels for studying near communication and (ii) distally connected within longitudinal microfluidic networks so as to mimic long distance signalling among intestinal flora. We observed native signalling processes of the bacterial quorum sensing autoinducer-2 (AI-2) system among and between these communities. Cells in an upstream device successfully self-reported their activities and also secreted autoinducers that were carried downstream to the assembled networks of bacteria that reported on their presence. Furthermore, active signal modulation of among distal populations was demonstrated in a "programmed" manner where "enhancer" and "reducer" communities were assembled adjacent to the test population or "reporter" cells. The modulator cells either amplified or attenuated the cell-cell signalling between the distal, already communicating cell populations. Modulation was quantified with a bioassay, and the reaction rates of signal production and consumption were further characterized using a first principles mathematical model. Simulated distribution profiles of signalling molecules in the cell-gel composites agreed well with the observed cellular responses. We believe this simple platform and the ease by which it is assembled can be applied to other cell-cell interaction studies among various species or kingdoms of cells within well-regulated microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Luo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
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Liu Y, Wu HC, Chhuan M, Terrell JL, Tsao CY, Bentley WE, Payne GF. Functionalizing Soft Matter for Molecular Communication. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2015; 1:320-328. [PMID: 26501127 PMCID: PMC4603720 DOI: 10.1021/ab500160e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [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: 12/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The
information age was enabled by advances in microfabrication
and communication theory that allowed information to be processed
by electrons and transmitted by electromagnetic radiation. Despite
immense capabilities, microelectronics has limited abilities to access
and participate in the molecular-based communication that characterizes
our biological world. Here, we use biological materials and methods
to create components and fabricate devices to perform simple molecular
communication functions based on bacterial quorum sensing (QS). Components
were created by protein engineering to generate a multidomain fusion
protein capable of sending a molecular QS signal, and by synthetic
biology to engineer E. coli to receive and report
this QS signal. The device matrix was formed using stimuli-responsive
hydrogel-forming biopolymers (alginate and gelatin). Assembly of the
components within the device matrix was achieved by physically entrapping
the cell-based components, and covalently conjugating the protein-based
components using the enzyme microbial transglutaminase. We demonstrate
simple devices that can send or receive a molecular QS signal to/from
the surrounding medium, and a two-component device in which one component
generates the signal (i.e., issues a command) that is acted upon by
the second component. These studies illustrate the broad potential
of biofabrication to generate molecular communication devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liu
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research and Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland , College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Hsuan-Chen Wu
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research and Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland , College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Melanie Chhuan
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research and Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland , College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Jessica L Terrell
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research and Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland , College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research and Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland , College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - William E Bentley
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research and Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland , College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research and Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland , College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
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24
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Li C, Liu IKK, Tsao CY, Chan V. Neuronal differentiation of human placenta–derived multi-potent stem cells enhanced by cell body oscillation on gelatin hydrogel. J BIOACT COMPAT POL 2014. [DOI: 10.1177/0883911514553903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Gelatin is a biocompatible material commonly employed in biomaterial design and tissue engineering. However, there is currently a lack of research into the development of gelatin hydrogels for facilitating specific lineage development of stem cells. In this study, the neuronal differentiation of human placenta–derived multi-potent (stem) cells was systematically optimized through the engineering of the gelatin hydrogel properties. The swelling ratio of Type A or Type B gelatin hydrogel changes during hydrogel formation in the gelatin concentration ranges from 16 to 6 wt%. In general, placenta-derived multi-potent (stem) cells effectively adhere on both, acidic and basic gelatin hydrogels with different swelling ratios as shown by the high attachment ratio of around 80%. Interestingly, adhered placenta-derived multi-potent (stem) cells had significant cell body oscillations on either 6 or 10 wt% gelatin hydrogels during the first 3 h of cell seeding. For placenta-derived multi-potent (stem) cells pre-cultured on 6 and 10 wt% gelatin hydrogel for either 2 or 12 h and subjected to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine to induce neuronal differentiation, the periodic contraction and extension of placenta-derived multi-potent (stem) cells pre-cultured for 2 h successfully directed the cells into neuron-like lineages. In contrast, the lack of cell body oscillation restrained the placenta-derived multi-potent (stem) cells pre-cultured for 12 h from differentiating into neuronal cells on the same gelatin hydrogels in response to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine stimulation. Overall, the possibility of engineering the properties of gelatin hydrogel to trigger stem cell development into a neuronal lineage through cell body oscillations was clearly demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Central University, Jhongli, Taiwan
| | - Isaac K-K Liu
- School of Engineering, The University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - CY Tsao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Central University, Jhongli, Taiwan
| | - Vincent Chan
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
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Adams BL, Carter KK, Guo M, Wu HC, Tsao CY, Sintim HO, Valdes JJ, Bentley WE. Evolved Quorum sensing regulator, LsrR, for altered switching functions. ACS Synth Biol 2014; 3:210-9. [PMID: 24111753 DOI: 10.1021/sb400068z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
In order to carry out innovative complex, multistep synthetic biology functions, members of a cell population often must communicate with one another to coordinate processes in a programmed manner. It therefore follows that native microbial communication systems are a conspicuous target for developing engineered populations and networks. Quorum sensing (QS) is a highly conserved mechanism of bacterial cell-cell communication and QS-based synthetic signal transduction pathways represent a new generation of biotechnology toolbox members. Specifically, the E. coli QS master regulator, LsrR, is uniquely positioned to actuate gene expression in response to a QS signal. In order to expand the use of LsrR in synthetic biology, two novel LsrR switches were generated through directed evolution: an "enhanced" repression and derepression eLsrR and a reversed repression/derepression function "activator" aLsrR. Protein modeling and docking studies are presented to gain insight into the QS signal binding to these two evolved proteins and their newly acquired functionality. We demonstrated the use of the aLsrR switch using a coculture system in which a QS signal, produced by one bacterial strain, is used to inhibit gene expression via aLsrR in a different strain. These first ever AI-2 controlled synthetic switches allow gene expression from the lsr promoter to be tuned simultaneously in two distinct cell populations. This work expands the tools available to create engineered microbial populations capable of carrying out complex functions necessary for the development of advanced synthetic products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryn L. Adams
- U.S.
Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010 United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | - James J. Valdes
- U.S.
Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010 United States
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Betz JF, Cheng Y, Tsao CY, Zargar A, Wu HC, Luo X, Payne GF, Bentley WE, Rubloff GW. Optically clear alginate hydrogels for spatially controlled cell entrapment and culture at microfluidic electrode surfaces. Lab Chip 2013; 13:1854-1858. [PMID: 23559159 DOI: 10.1039/c3lc50079a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
We describe an innovation in the immobilization, culture, and imaging of cells in calcium alginate within microfluidic devices. This technique allows unprecedented optical access to the entirety of the calcium alginate hydrogel, enabling observation of growth and behavior in a chemical and mechanical environment favored by many kinds of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan F Betz
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
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27
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28
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Luo X, Wu HC, Tsao CY, Cheng Y, Betz J, Payne GF, Rubloff GW, Bentley WE. Biofabrication of stratified biofilm mimics for observation and control of bacterial signaling. Biomaterials 2012; 33:5136-43. [PMID: 22507453 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2012.03.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2012] [Accepted: 03/10/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Signaling between cells guides biological phenotype. Communications between individual cells, clusters of cells and populations exist in complex networks that, in sum, guide behavior. There are few experimental approaches that enable high content interrogation of individual and multicellular behaviors at length and time scales commensurate with the signal molecules and cells themselves. Here we present "biofabrication" in microfluidics as one approach that enables in-situ organization of living cells in microenvironments with spatiotemporal control and programmability. We construct bacterial biofilm mimics that offer detailed understanding and subsequent control of population-based quorum sensing (QS) behaviors in a manner decoupled from cell number. Our approach reveals signaling patterns among bacterial cells within a single biofilm as well as behaviors that are coordinated between two communicating biofilms. We envision versatile use of this biofabrication strategy for cell-cell interaction studies and small molecule drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Luo
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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29
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Terrell JL, Gordonov T, Cheng Y, Wu HC, Sampey D, Luo X, Tsao CY, Ghodssi R, Rubloff GW, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Integrated biofabrication for electro-addressed in-film bioprocessing. Biotechnol J 2012; 7:428-39. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201100181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2011] [Revised: 11/14/2011] [Accepted: 12/22/2011] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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30
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Cheng Y, Luo X, Tsao CY, Wu HC, Betz J, Payne GF, Bentley WE, Rubloff GW. Biocompatible multi-address 3D cell assembly in microfluidic devices using spatially programmable gel formation. Lab Chip 2011; 11:2316-2318. [PMID: 21629950 DOI: 10.1039/c1lc20306a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Programmable 3D cell assembly under physiological pH conditions is achieved using electrodeposited stimuli-responsive alginate gels in a microfluidic device, with parallel sidewall electrodes enabling direct observation of the cell assembly. Electrically triggered assembly and subsequent viability of mammalian cells is demonstrated, along with spatially programmable, multi-address assembly of different strains of E. coli cells. Our approach enables in vitro study of dynamic cellular and inter-cellular processes, from cell growth and stimulus/response to inter-colony and inter-species signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Cheng
- Institute for Systems Research (ISR), University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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31
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Hebert CG, Gupta A, Fernandes R, Tsao CY, Valdes JJ, Bentley WE. Biological nanofactories target and activate epithelial cell surfaces for modulating bacterial quorum sensing and interspecies signaling. ACS Nano 2010; 4:6923-6931. [PMID: 21028779 DOI: 10.1021/nn1013066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
In order to control the behavior of bacteria present at the surface of human epithelial cells, we have created a biological "nanofactory" construct that "coats" the epithelial cells and "activates" the surface to produce the bacterial quorum sensing signaling molecule, autoinducer-2 (AI-2). Specifically, we demonstrate directed modulation of signaling among Escherichia coli cells grown over the surface of human epithelial (Caco-2) cells through site-directed attachment of biological nanofactories. These "factories" comprise a fusion protein expressed and purified from E. coli containing two AI-2 bacterial synthases (Pfs and LuxS), a protein G IgG binding domain, and affinity ligands for purification. The final factory is fabricated ex vivo by incubating with an anti-CD26 antibody that binds the fusion protein and specifically targets the CD26 dipeptidyl peptidase found on the outer surface of Caco-2 cells. This is the first report of the intentional "in vitro" synthesis of bacterial autoinducers at the surface of epithelial cells for the redirection of quorum sensing behaviors of bacteria. We envision tools such as this will be useful for interrogating, interpreting, and disrupting signaling events associated with the microbiome localized in human intestine and other environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin G Hebert
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, 5115 Plant Science Building, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
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32
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Fernandes R, Luo X, Tsao CY, Payne GF, Ghodssi R, Rubloff GW, Bentley WE. Biological nanofactories facilitate spatially selective capture and manipulation of quorum sensing bacteria in a bioMEMS device. Lab Chip 2010; 10:1128-34. [PMID: 20390130 DOI: 10.1039/b926846d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of bacteria that evade antibiotics has accelerated research on alternative approaches that do not target cell viability. One such approach targets cell-cell communication networks mediated by small molecule signaling. In this report, we assemble biological nanofactories within a bioMEMS device to capture and manipulate the behavior of quorum sensing (QS) bacteria as a step toward modifying small molecule signaling. Biological nanofactories are bio-inspired nanoscale constructs which can include modules with different functionalities, such as cell targeting, molecular sensing, product synthesis, and ultimately self-destruction. The biological nanofactories reported here consist of targeting, sensing, synthesis and, importantly, assembly modules. A bacteria-specific antibody constitutes the targeting module while a genetically engineered fusion protein contains the sensing, synthesis and assembly modules. The nanofactories are assembled on chitosan electrodeposited within a microchannel of the bioMEMS device; they capture QS bacteria in a spatially selective manner and locally synthesize and deliver the "universal" small signaling molecule autoinducer-2 (AI-2) at the captured cell surface. The nanofactory based AI-2 delivery is demonstrated to alter the progression of the native AI-2 based QS response of the captured bacteria. Prospects are envisioned for utilizing our technique as a test-bed for understanding the AI-2 based QS response of bacteria as a means for developing the next generation of antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohan Fernandes
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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33
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Abstract
Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-cell communication process, mediated by signaling molecules, that alters various phenotypes including pathogenicity. Methods to interrupt these communication networks are being pursued as next generation antimicrobials. We present a technique for interrupting communication among bacteria that exploits their native and highly specific machinery for processing the signaling molecules themselves. Specifically, our approach is to bring native intracellular signal processing mechanisms to the extracellular surroundings and "quench" crosstalk among a variety of strains. In this study, the QS system based on the interspecies signaling molecule autoinducer-2 (AI-2) is targeted because of its prevalence among prokaryotes (it functions in over 80 bacterial species). We demonstrate that the Escherichia coli AI-2 kinase, LsrK, can phosphorylate AI-2 in vitro, and when LsrK-treated AI-2 is added ex vivo to E. coli populations, the native QS response is significantly reduced. Further, LsrK-mediated degradation of AI-2 attenuates the QS response among Salmonella typhimurium and Vibrio harveyi even though the AI-2 signal transduction mechanisms and the phenotypic responses are species-specific. Analogous results are obtained from a synthetic ecosystem where three species of bacteria (enteric and marine) are co-cultured. Finally, the addition of LsrK and ATP to growing co-cultures of E. coli and S. typhimurium exhibits significantly reduced native "cross-talk" that ordinarily exists among and between species in an ecosystem. We believe this nature-inspired enzymatic approach for quenching QS systems will spawn new methods for controlling cell phenotype and potentially open new avenues for controlling bacterial pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varnika Roy
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland 20742
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
| | - Rohan Fernandes
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland 20742
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland 20742
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
| | - William E. Bentley
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland 20742
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742
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Tsao CY, Hooshangi S, Wu HC, Valdes JJ, Bentley WE. Autonomous induction of recombinant proteins by minimally rewiring native quorum sensing regulon of E. coli. Metab Eng 2010; 12:291-7. [PMID: 20060924 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2010.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2009] [Revised: 11/30/2009] [Accepted: 01/04/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) enables an individual bacterium's metabolic state to be communicated to and ultimately control the phenotype of an emerging population. Harnessing the hierarchical nature of this signal transduction process may enable the exploitation of individual cell characteristics to direct or "program" entire populations of cells. We re-engineered the native QS regulon so that individual cell signals (autoinducers) are used to guide high level expression of recombinant proteins in E. coli populations. Specifically, the autoinducer-2 (AI-2) QS signal initiates and guides the overexpression of green fluorescent protein (GFP), chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) and beta-galactosidase (LacZ). The new process requires no supervision or input (e.g., sampling for optical density measurement, inducer addition, or medium exchange) and represents a low-cost, high-yield platform for recombinant protein production. Moreover, rewiring a native signal transduction circuit exemplifies an emerging class of metabolic engineering approaches that target regulatory functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Yu Tsao
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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35
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Wu HC, Shi XW, Tsao CY, Lewandowski AT, Fernandes R, Hung CW, DeShong P, Kobatake E, Valdes JJ, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Biofabrication of antibodies and antigens via IgG-binding domain engineered with activatable pentatyrosine pro-tag. Biotechnol Bioeng 2009; 103:231-40. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.22238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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36
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Shi XW, Wu HC, Liu Y, Tsao CY, Wang K, Kobatake E, Bentley WE, Payne GF. Chitosan Fibers: Versatile Platform for Nickel-Mediated Protein Assembly. Biomacromolecules 2008; 9:1417-23. [DOI: 10.1021/bm800072e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Wen Shi
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland 20742, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, and Department of Biological Information, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Hsuan-Chen Wu
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland 20742, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, and Department of Biological Information, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Yi Liu
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland 20742, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, and Department of Biological Information, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland 20742, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, and Department of Biological Information, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Kai Wang
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland 20742, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, and Department of Biological Information, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Eiry Kobatake
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland 20742, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, and Department of Biological Information, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - William E. Bentley
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland 20742, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, and Department of Biological Information, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Gregory F. Payne
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland 20742, Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, and Department of Biological Information, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
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Fernandes R, Tsao CY, Hashimoto Y, Wang L, Wood TK, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Magnetic nanofactories: Localized synthesis and delivery of quorum-sensing signaling molecule autoinducer-2 to bacterial cell surfaces. Metab Eng 2007; 9:228-39. [PMID: 17241803 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2006.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2006] [Revised: 10/03/2006] [Accepted: 11/29/2006] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic 'nanofactories', for localized manufacture and signal-guided delivery of small molecules to targeted cell surfaces, are demonstrated. They recruit nearby raw materials for synthesis, employ magnetic mobility for capture and localization of target cells, and deliver molecules to cells triggering their native phenotypic response, but with user-specified control. Our nanofactories, which synthesize and deliver the "universal" bacterial quorum-sensing signal molecule, autoinducer AI-2, to the surface of Escherichia coli, are assembled by first co-precipitating nanoparticles of iron salts and the biopolymer chitosan. E. coli AI-2 synthases, Pfs and LuxS, constructed with enzymatically activatable "pro-tags", are then covalently tethered onto the chitosan. These enzymes synthesize AI-2 from metabolite S-adenosylhomocysteine. Chitosan serves as a molecular scaffold and provides cell capture ability; magnetite provides stimuli responsiveness. These magnetic nanofactories are shown to modulate the natural progression of quorum-sensing activity. New prospects for small molecule delivery, based on localized synthesis, are envisioned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohan Fernandes
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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38
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Li J, Wang L, Hashimoto Y, Tsao CY, Wood TK, Valdes JJ, Zafiriou E, Bentley WE. A stochastic model of Escherichia coli AI-2 quorum signal circuit reveals alternative synthesis pathways. Mol Syst Biol 2006; 2:67. [PMID: 17170762 PMCID: PMC1762088 DOI: 10.1038/msb4100107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2006] [Accepted: 09/18/2006] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is an important determinant of bacterial phenotype. Many cell functions are regulated by intricate and multimodal QS signal transduction processes. The LuxS/AI-2 QS system is highly conserved among Eubacteria and AI-2 is reported as a 'universal' signal molecule. To understand the hierarchical organization of AI-2 circuitry, a comprehensive approach incorporating stochastic simulations was developed. We investigated the synthesis, uptake, and regulation of AI-2, developed testable hypotheses, and made several discoveries: (1) the mRNA transcript and protein levels of AI-2 synthases, Pfs and LuxS, do not contribute to the dramatically increased level of AI-2 found when cells are grown in the presence of glucose; (2) a concomitant increase in metabolic flux through this synthesis pathway in the presence of glucose only partially accounts for this difference. We predict that 'high-flux' alternative pathways or additional biological steps are involved in AI-2 synthesis; and (3) experimental results validate this hypothesis. This work demonstrates the utility of linking cell physiology with systems-based stochastic models that can be assembled de novo with partial knowledge of biochemical pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland, MD, USA
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, MD, USA
| | - Liang Wang
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland, MD, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, MD, USA
| | - Yoshifumi Hashimoto
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland, MD, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland, MD, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, MD, USA
| | - Thomas K Wood
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - James J Valdes
- Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, US Army, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA
| | - Evanghelos Zafiriou
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, MD, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, Maryland, MD, USA
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, MD, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, MD, USA
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Wang L, Hashimoto Y, Tsao CY, Valdes JJ, Bentley WE. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cAMP receptor protein influence both synthesis and uptake of extracellular autoinducer 2 in Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 2005; 187:2066-76. [PMID: 15743955 PMCID: PMC1064054 DOI: 10.1128/jb.187.6.2066-2076.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial autoinducer 2 (AI-2) is proposed to be an interspecies mediator of cell-cell communication that enables cells to operate at the multicellular level. Many environmental stimuli have been shown to affect the extracellular AI-2 levels, carbon sources being among the most important. In this report, we show that both AI-2 synthesis and uptake in Escherichia coli are subject to catabolite repression through the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-CRP complex, which directly stimulates transcription of the lsr (for "luxS regulated") operon and indirectly represses luxS expression. Specifically, cAMP-CRP is shown to bind to a CRP binding site located in the upstream region of the lsr promoter and works with the LsrR repressor to regulate AI-2 uptake. The functions of the lsr operon and its regulators, LsrR and LsrK, previously reported in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, are confirmed here for E. coli. The elucidation of cAMP-CRP involvement in E. coli autoinduction impacts many areas, including the growth of E. coli in fermentation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Wang
- Center for Biosystems Research, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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Hong JH, Chiang CS, Tsao CY, Lin PY, Wu CJ, McBride WH. Can short-term administration of dexamethasone abrogate radiation-induced acute cytokine gene response in lung and modify subsequent molecular responses? Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2001; 51:296-303. [PMID: 11567802 DOI: 10.1016/s0360-3016(01)01702-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the effects of short-term administration of dexamethasone (DEX) on radiation-induced responses in the mouse lung, focusing on expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine and related genes. METHODS AND MATERIALS At indicated times after thoracic irradiation and/or drug treatment, mRNA expression levels of cytokines (mTNF-alpha, mIL-1 alpha, mIL-1 beta, mIL-2, mIL-3, mIL-4, mIL-5, mIL-6, mIFN-gamma) and related genes in the lungs of C3H/HeN mice were measured by RNase protection assay. RESULTS Radiation-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression levels in lung peak at 6 h after thoracic irradiation. DEX (5 mg/kg) suppresses both basal cytokine mRNA levels and this early response when given immediately after irradiation. However, by 24 h, in mice treated with DEX alone or DEX plus radiation, there was a strong rebound effect that lasted up to 3 days. Modification of the early radiation-induced response by DEX did not change the second wave of cytokine gene expression in the lung that occurs at 1 to 2 weeks, suggesting that early cytokine gene induction might not determine subsequent molecular events. A single dose of DEX attenuated, but did not completely suppress, increases in cytokine mRNA levels induced by lipopolysaccharide (2.5 mg/kg) treatment, but, unlike with radiation, no significant rebound effect was seen. Five days of dexamethasone treatment in the pneumonitic phase also inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression and, again, there was a rebound effect after withdrawal of the drug. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that short-term use of dexamethasone can temporarily suppress radiation-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression, but there may be a rebound after drug withdrawal and the drug does little to change the essence and course of the pneumonitic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Hong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
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Abstract
Neuropathy, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosa (NARP) syndrome and maternally inherited Leigh's syndrome have been associated with T8993G point mutations in the mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase 6 gene. Typically, NARP syndrome is characterized by developmental delay, seizures, dementia, retinitis pigmentosa, ataxia, sensory neuropathy, and proximal weakness. Usually, there is a correlation between the percentage of mutated mitochondrial DNA and clinical severity, and when mutated mitochondrial DNA is > 90%, it is often seen with Leigh's syndrome. We now report a family with mitochondrial DNA T8993G mutation in eight living members, five with mutant mitochondrial DNA >90% and one with 20% mutant mitochondrial DNA. However, their clinical features include variable combinations of seizures, behavior problems, learning disability, mental retardation, sensorineural deafness, cerebellar ataxia, and proximal muscle weakness. No retinitis pigmentosa was found in all eight living members, including a 56-year-old grandmother. Only one dead female relative was diagnosed with Leigh's syndrome on the neuropathologic examination at age 22 years, when she died of an accident. High mitochondrial DNA T8993G mutation is not always associated with typical features of Leigh's and NARP syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Y Tsao
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43205, USA.
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Musumeci O, Naini A, Slonim AE, Skavin N, Hadjigeorgiou GL, Krawiecki N, Weissman BM, Tsao CY, Mendell JR, Shanske S, De Vivo DC, Hirano M, DiMauro S. Familial cerebellar ataxia with muscle coenzyme Q10 deficiency. Neurology 2001; 56:849-55. [PMID: 11294920 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.56.7.849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe a clinical syndrome of cerebellar ataxia associated with muscle coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) deficiency. BACKGROUND Muscle CoQ10 deficiency has been reported only in a few patients with a mitochondrial encephalomyopathy characterized by 1) recurrent myoglobinuria; 2) brain involvement (seizures, ataxia, mental retardation), and 3) ragged-red fibers and lipid storage in the muscle biopsy. METHODS Having found decreased CoQ10 levels in muscle from a patient with unclassified familial cerebellar ataxia, the authors measured CoQ10 in muscle biopsies from other patients in whom cerebellar ataxia could not be attributed to known genetic causes. RESULTS The authors found muscle CoQ10 deficiency (26 to 35% of normal) in six patients with cerebellar ataxia, pyramidal signs, and seizures. All six patients responded to CoQ10 supplementation; strength increased, ataxia improved, and seizures became less frequent. CONCLUSIONS Primary CoQ10 deficiency is a potentially important cause of familial ataxia and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of this condition because CoQ10 administration seems to improve the clinical picture.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Musumeci
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
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Kao KC, Tsai YH, Lin MC, Huang CC, Tsao CY, Chen YC. Hypokalemic muscular paralysis causing acute respiratory failure due to rhabdomyolysis with renal tubular acidosis in a chronic glue sniffer. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2001; 38:679-81. [PMID: 11185978 DOI: 10.1081/clt-100102021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
CASE REPORT A 34-year-old male was admitted to the emergency department with the development of quadriparesis and respiratory failure due to hypokalemia after prolonged glue sniffing. The patient was subsequently given mechanical ventilatory support for respiratory failure. He was weaned from the ventilator 4 days later after potassium replacement. Toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon found in glues, cements, and solvents. It is known to be toxic to the nervous system, hematopoietic system, and causes acid-base and electrolyte disorders. Acute respiratory failure with hypokalemia and rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure should be considered as potential events in a protracted glue sniffing.
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Affiliation(s)
- K C Kao
- Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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44
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Abstract
The first girl of an unrelated couple was noted to have failure to thrive since age 3 months, generalized hypotonia and weakness, hepatomegaly, hypoglycemia, and lactic acidosis at 4 months. She was found to have severe mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion and respiratory chain complex IV deficiency in both skeletal muscle and liver but without other common mtDNA mutations. Her younger brother developed vomiting at age 3 weeks and was diagnosed as having pyloric stenosis. His skeletal muscle and liver also showed severe mtDNA depletion. He developed generalized weakness and hypotonia, hepatomegaly, and lactic acidosis at age 3 months. Both siblings died of hepatic failure and hemorrhagic complication before 6 months of age. The brother also had chemical pancreatitis, which had not been reported before in mtDNA depletion in children. Severe mtDNA depletion may present with nonspecific symptoms such as vomiting, failure to thrive, and developmental delay; multiorgan involvement such as hepatomegaly, pancreatitis, and myopathy occurs later. Mitochondrial DNA depletion should be considered in the differential diagnosis in children with developmental delay or failure to thrive of unknown etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Y Tsao
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, College of Medicine and Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43205, USA.
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45
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Abstract
Myasthenia gravis has been associated with other autoimmune disorders. We report two children with myasthenia gravis and another autoimmune disease: an 18-month-old boy with ocular myasthenia gravis and Hashimoto's disease and a 14-year-old girl presenting with autoimmune polymyositis, then generalized myasthenia gravis 2 years later. The rare combinations of myasthenia gravis and Hashimoto's disease or polymyositis in children are discussed, and we also briefly review myasthenia gravis and other associated autoimmune diseases in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Y Tsao
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA
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46
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Abstract
Patients with mitochondrial respiratory-chain defects frequently exhibit lactic acidosis, ragged red fibers in skeletal muscle samples, and abnormal enzyme assays for the respiratory-chain complex. However, ragged red fibers and lactic acidosis are not always seen in all patients with mitochondrial respiratory-chain defects. We have encountered six children with biochemically proven respiratory chain defects, but typical ragged red fibers were not found in all six patients, and only five patients had increased serum lactate levels. Initially, they present with nonspecific features. However, persistent or progressive clinical features or multiple organ involvement eventually led to the diagnosis of respiratory-chain defects in these patients. Mitochondrial respiratory-chain defects should be considered in the differential diagnosis when persistent, progressive features and especially multiple organ involvement occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Y Tsao
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
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Abstract
New discoveries have dramatically changed the way we approach and think about patients with childhood muscular dystrophies. An aura of order and organization seems to be at hand for a group of diseases which previously seemed endlessly heterogeneous. We have learned that young boys and girls with proximal muscle weakness, large calves and elevated serum CK may have any one of a number of closely connected disorders which affect a complex of interacting proteins of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. This complex links the intracellular cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix. Patients with Duchenne and Becker dystrophies lack dystrophin, while some of the limb girdle muscular dystrophies (an archaic term) are deficient in sarcoglycans and other proteins. The concept of interrelated disorders extends to the previously orphaned distal muscular dystrophies, or distal myopathies, as they are often called. A surprise finding is that the C. elegans protein, dysferlin, is conserved and expressed in man. We know little of the function of this protein in human primates, but its loss in muscle has brought seemingly disparate disorders together, since both a form of LGMD (2B) and distal myopathy (Miyoshi myopathy) are deficient in this same gene product. The congenital muscular dystrophies are also well-entrenched in our expanding concepts of orderliness of disease. The defect in the laminin-alpha2 chain, a direct ligand to the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, causes a form of muscular dystrophy which affects infants. Another variant of congenital muscular dystrophy is deficient the integrin alpha7, an important laminin receptor. Finally, in Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy, the deficient fukutin gene product may also be linked to the basal lamina, permitting overmigration of neuronal cells which lead to micropolygyria in the brain, and at the same time cause basal lamina defects in the extracellular matrix of skeletal muscle, which leads to muscular dystrophy. As we approach the millennium, those of us who have seen the transition from the pre-molecular to the molecular era of myology know that we leave behind a great legacy of chaos (no great loss), replaced by a foundation for conceptual organization which will serve to establish new roots for research as well as for the enriched practice of medicine. The future looks bright for our field and our patients!
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Affiliation(s)
- C Y Tsao
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA
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Hong JH, Chiang CS, Tsao CY, Lin PY, McBride WH, Wu CJ. Rapid induction of cytokine gene expression in the lung after single and fractionated doses of radiation. Int J Radiat Biol 1999; 75:1421-7. [PMID: 10597915 DOI: 10.1080/095530099139287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate cytokine gene expression in the lung after single and fractionated doses of radiation, and to investigate the effect of steroids and the genetic background. MATERIALS AND METHODS Expression of cytokine genes (mTNF-alpha, mIL-1alpha, mIL-1beta, mIL-2, mIL-3, mIL-4, mIL-5, mIL-6, mIFN-gamma) in the lungs of C3H/HeJ and C57BL/6J mice was measured by RNase protection assay at different times after various doses of radiation. The effects of dexamethasone and fractionated radiation treatment on gene expression were also studied. RESULTS IL-1beta was the major cytokine induced in the lungs of C3H/HeJ mice within the first day after thoracic irradiation. Radiation doses as low as 1 Gy were effective. Responses to 20 Gy irradiation peaked within 4-8h and subsided by 24 h. With the exception of IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha, the other cytokines that were investigated had undetectable pre-treatment mRNA levels and were not radiation inducible. Similar responses were seen in C57BL/6J mice, although TNF-alpha was induced and there were some quantitative differences. Pre-treatment of C3H/HeJ mice with dexamethasone reduced basal and induced IL-1 levels, but complete inhibition was not achieved. Dexamethasone was also effective if given immediately after irradiation. Fractionated daily doses of radiation (4 Gy/day) helped to maintain cytokine gene expression for a longer period. CONCLUSIONS Inflammatory genes are rapidly induced in the lung by irradiation. This response cannot be readily abolished by steroid pre-treatment. Fractionated treatment schedules help to perpetuate the response.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Hong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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Sue CM, Bruno C, Andreu AL, Cargan A, Mendell JR, Tsao CY, Luquette M, Paolicchi J, Shanske S, DiMauro S, De Vivo DC. Infantile encephalopathy associated with the MELAS A3243G mutation. J Pediatr 1999; 134:696-700. [PMID: 10356136 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-3476(99)70283-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
MELAS syndrome is typically characterized by normal early development and childhood-onset recurrent neurologic deficits (stroke-like episodes), seizures, short stature, lactic acidosis, and ragged red fibers on muscle biopsy specimens. It is usually, but not invariably, associated with the A3243G point mutation in the mitochondrial DNA tRNALeu(UUR) gene. We report 3 unrelated children with the A3243G mutation who presented with severe psychomotor delay in early infancy. One patient's clinical picture was more consistent with Leigh syndrome, with apneic episodes, ataxia, and bilateral striatal lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The second patient had generalized seizures refractory to treatment and bilateral occipital lesions on brain MRI. The third child had atypical retinal pigmentary changes, seizures, areflexia, and cerebral atrophy on brain MRI. All patients had several atypical features in addition to early onset: absence of an acute or focal neurologic deficit, variable serum and cerebrospinal fluid lactate levels, lack of ragged red fibers in muscle biopsy specimens. The proportion of mutant mtDNA in available tissues was relatively low (range, 5% to 51% in muscle; 4% to 39% in blood). These observations further extend the phenotypic expression of the A3243G "MELAS" mutation. Our findings confirm previous observations that there is poor correlation between abundance of mutant mtDNA in peripheral tissues and neurologic phenotype. This suggests that other factors contribute to the phenotypic expression of this mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Sue
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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Tsao CY, Mendell JR, Rusin J, Luquette M. Congenital muscular dystrophy with complete laminin-alpha2-deficiency, cortical dysplasia, and cerebral white-matter changes in children. J Child Neurol 1998; 13:253-6. [PMID: 9660506 DOI: 10.1177/088307389801300602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Congenital muscular dystrophy consists of Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy, Walker-Warburg syndrome, muscle-eye-brain disease, and occidental congenital muscular dystrophy, which is further divided into laminin-alpha2-positive and laminin-alpha2-negative subgroups. These forms of congenital muscular dystrophy are frequently associated with abnormal white-matter changes, whereas the Fukuyama form, Walker-Warburg syndrome, and muscle-eye-brain disease are also frequently found to have polymicrogyria. We now report two infants with complete laminin-alpha2-deficiency who have not only abnormal cerebral white-matter lesions, but also bioccipital polymicrogyria. There are significant similarities in the clinical and cerebral manifestations among the various types of congenital muscular dystrophy. The diagnosis of the Fukuyama form, laminin-alpha2-deficiency, Walker-Warburg syndrome, and muscle-eye-brain disease cannot always be established on radiological studies alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Y Tsao
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA
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