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Benisch M, Aoki SK, Khammash M. Unlocking the potential of optogenetics in microbial applications. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 77:102404. [PMID: 38039932 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Optogenetics is a powerful approach that enables researchers to use light to dynamically manipulate cellular behavior. Since the first published use of optogenetics in synthetic biology, the field has expanded rapidly, yielding a vast array of tools and applications. Despite its immense potential for achieving high spatiotemporal precision, optogenetics has predominantly been employed as a substitute for conventional chemical inducers. In this short review, we discuss key features of microbial optogenetics and highlight applications for understanding biology, cocultures, bioproduction, biomaterials, and therapeutics, in which optogenetics is more fully utilized to realize goals not previously possible by other methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Benisch
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH Zürich, Schanzenstrasse 44, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Stephanie K Aoki
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH Zürich, Schanzenstrasse 44, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Mustafa Khammash
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH Zürich, Schanzenstrasse 44, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
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2
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Bezold F, Scheffer J, Wendering P, Razaghi-Moghadam Z, Trauth J, Pook B, Nußhär H, Hasenjäger S, Nikoloski Z, Essen LO, Taxis C. Optogenetic control of Cdc48 for dynamic metabolic engineering in yeast. Metab Eng 2023; 79:97-107. [PMID: 37422133 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2023.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic metabolic engineering is a strategy to switch key metabolic pathways in microbial cell factories from biomass generation to accumulation of target products. Here, we demonstrate that optogenetic intervention in the cell cycle of budding yeast can be used to increase production of valuable chemicals, such as the terpenoid β-carotene or the nucleoside analog cordycepin. We achieved optogenetic cell-cycle arrest in the G2/M phase by controlling activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome system hub Cdc48. To analyze the metabolic capacities in the cell cycle arrested yeast strain, we studied their proteomes by timsTOF mass spectrometry. This revealed widespread, but highly distinct abundance changes of metabolic key enzymes. Integration of the proteomics data in protein-constrained metabolic models demonstrated modulation of fluxes directly associated with terpenoid production as well as metabolic subsystems involved in protein biosynthesis, cell wall synthesis, and cofactor biosynthesis. These results demonstrate that optogenetically triggered cell cycle intervention is an option to increase the yields of compounds synthesized in a cellular factory by reallocation of metabolic resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipp Bezold
- Unit for Structural Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Scheffer
- Unit for Structural Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Wendering
- Systems Biology and Mathematical Modeling, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476, Potsdam, Germany; Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Zahra Razaghi-Moghadam
- Systems Biology and Mathematical Modeling, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476, Potsdam, Germany; Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jonathan Trauth
- Unit for Structural Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Bastian Pook
- Unit for Structural Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Hagen Nußhär
- Unit for Structural Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Sophia Hasenjäger
- Unit for Structural Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Zoran Nikoloski
- Systems Biology and Mathematical Modeling, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476, Potsdam, Germany; Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Lars-Oliver Essen
- Unit for Structural Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Christof Taxis
- Department of Biology/Genetics, Philipps-University Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany; School of Science and Technology, University Siegen, 57076, Siegen, Germany.
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3
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Rojas V, Larrondo LF. Coupling Cell Communication and Optogenetics: Implementation of a Light-Inducible Intercellular System in Yeast. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:71-82. [PMID: 36534043 PMCID: PMC9872819 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Cell communication is a widespread mechanism in biology, allowing the transmission of information about environmental conditions. In order to understand how cell communication modulates relevant biological processes such as survival, division, differentiation, and apoptosis, different synthetic systems based on chemical induction have been successfully developed. In this work, we coupled cell communication and optogenetics in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our approach is based on two strains connected by the light-dependent production of α-factor pheromone in one cell type, which induces gene expression in the other type. After the individual characterization of the different variants of both strains, the optogenetic intercellular system was evaluated by combining the cells under contrasting illumination conditions. Using luciferase as a reporter gene, specific co-cultures at a 1:1 ratio displayed activation of the response upon constant blue light, which was not observed for the same cell mixtures grown in darkness. Then, the system was assessed at several dark/blue-light transitions, where the response level varies depending on the moment in which illumination was delivered. Furthermore, we observed that the amplitude of response can be tuned by modifying the initial ratio between both strains. Finally, the two-population system showed higher fold inductions in comparison with autonomous strains. Altogether, these results demonstrated that external light information is propagated through a diffusible signaling molecule to modulate gene expression in a synthetic system involving microbial cells, which will pave the road for studies allowing optogenetic control of population-level dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicente Rojas
- Departamento
de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias
Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad
Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
- Millennium
Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago 8331150, Chile
| | - Luis F. Larrondo
- Departamento
de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias
Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad
Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
- Millennium
Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio), Santiago 8331150, Chile
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4
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Azizoğlu A, Loureiro C, Venetz J, Brent R. Autorepression-Based Conditional Gene Expression System in Yeast for Variation-Suppressed Control of Protein Dosage. Curr Protoc 2023; 3:e647. [PMID: 36708363 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Conditional control of gene expression allows an experimenter to investigate many aspects of a gene's function. In the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a number of methods to control gene expression are widely practiced, including induction by metabolites, small molecules, and even light. However, all current methods suffer from at least one of a set of drawbacks, including need for specialized growth conditions, leaky expression, or requirement of specialized equipment. Here we describe protocols using two transformations to construct strains that carry a new controller in which all these drawbacks are overcome. In these strains, the expression of a controlled gene of interest is repressed by the bacterial repressor TetR and induced by anhydrotetracycline. TetR also regulates its own expression, creating an autorepression loop. This autorepression allows tight control of gene expression and protein dosage with low cell-to-cell variation in expression. A second repressor, TetR-Tup1, prevents any leaky expression. We also present a protocol showing a particular workhorse application of such strains to generate synchronized cell populations. We turn off expression of the cell cycle regulator CDC20 completely, arresting the cell population, and then we turn it back on so that the synchronized cells resume cell cycle progression. This control system can be applied to any endogenous or exogenous gene for precise expression. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Generating a parent WTC846 strain Basic Protocol 2: Generating a WTC846 strain with controlled expression of the targeted gene Alternate Protocol: CRISPR-mediated promoter replacement Basic Protocol 3: Cell cycle synchronization/arrest and release using the WTC846- K3 ::CDC20 strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aslı Azizoğlu
- Computational Systems Biology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cristina Loureiro
- Computational Systems Biology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan Venetz
- Computational Systems Biology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Roger Brent
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
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5
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Figueroa D, Baeza C, Ruiz D, Inzunza C, Romero A, Toro R, Salinas F. Expanding the molecular versatility of an optogenetic switch in yeast. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1029217. [PMID: 36457859 PMCID: PMC9705753 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1029217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the FUN-LOV (FUNgal Light Oxygen and Voltage) optogenetic switch enables high levels of light-activated gene expression in a reversible and tunable fashion. The FUN-LOV components, under identical promoter and terminator sequences, are encoded in two different plasmids, which limits its future applications in wild and industrial yeast strains. In this work, we aim to expand the molecular versatility of the FUN-LOV switch to increase its biotechnological applications. Initially, we generated new variants of this system by replacing the promoter and terminator sequences and by cloning the system in a single plasmid (FUN-LOVSP). In a second step, we included the nourseothricin (Nat) or hygromycin (Hph) antibiotic resistances genes in the new FUN-LOVSP plasmid, generating two new variants (FUN-LOVSP-Nat and FUN-LOVSP-Hph), to allow selection after genome integration. Then, we compared the levels of light-activated expression for each FUN-LOV variants using the luciferase reporter gene in the BY4741 yeast strain. The results indicate that FUN-LOVSP-Nat and FUN-LOVSP-Hph, either episomally or genome integrated, reached higher levels of luciferase expression upon blue-light stimulation compared the original FUN-LOV system. Finally, we demonstrated the functionality of FUN-LOVSP-Hph in the 59A-EC1118 wine yeast strain, showing similar levels of reporter gene induction under blue-light respect to the laboratory strain, and with lower luciferase expression background in darkness condition. Altogether, the new FUN-LOV variants described here are functional in different yeast strains, expanding the biotechnological applications of this optogenetic tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Figueroa
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative–Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBIO), Santiago, Chile
| | - Camila Baeza
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative–Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBIO), Santiago, Chile
| | - Diego Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative–Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBIO), Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudia Inzunza
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative–Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBIO), Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrés Romero
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative–Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBIO), Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Toro
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative–Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBIO), Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Salinas
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative–Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBIO), Santiago, Chile
- *Correspondence: Francisco Salinas,
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6
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Enhancing bioreactor arrays for automated measurements and reactive control with ReacSight. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3363. [PMID: 35690608 PMCID: PMC9188569 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31033-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Small-scale, low-cost bioreactors provide exquisite control of environmental parameters of microbial cultures over long durations. Their use is gaining popularity in quantitative systems and synthetic biology. However, existing setups are limited in their measurement capabilities. Here, we present ReacSight, a strategy to enhance bioreactor arrays for automated measurements and reactive experiment control. ReacSight leverages low-cost pipetting robots for sample collection, handling and loading, and provides a flexible instrument control architecture. We showcase ReacSight capabilities on three applications in yeast. First, we demonstrate real-time optogenetic control of gene expression. Second, we explore the impact of nutrient scarcity on fitness and cellular stress using competition assays. Third, we perform dynamic control of the composition of a two-strain consortium. We combine custom or chi.bio reactors with automated cytometry. To further illustrate ReacSight's genericity, we use it to enhance plate-readers with pipetting capabilities and perform repeated antibiotic treatments on a bacterial clinical isolate.
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7
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Gramazio S, Trauth J, Bezold F, Essen LO, Taxis C, Spadaccini R. Light-induced fermenter production of derivatives of the sweet protein monellin is maximized in prestationary Saccharomyces cerevisiae cultures. Biotechnol J 2022; 17:e2100676. [PMID: 35481893 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202100676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetics has great potential for biotechnology and metabolic engineering due to the cost-effective control of cellular activities. The usage of optogenetics techniques for the biosynthesis of bioactive molecules ensures reduced costs and enhanced regulatory possibilities. This requires development of efficient methods for light-delivery during a production process in a fermenter. Here, we benchmarked the fermenter production of a low-caloric sweetener in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with optogenetic tools against the production in small scale cell culture flasks. An expression system based on the light-controlled interaction between Cry2 and Cib1 was used for sweet-protein production. Optimization of the fermenter process was achieved by increasing the light-flux during the production phase to circumvent shading by yeast cells at high densities. Maximal amounts of the sweet-protein were produced in a pre-stationary growth phase, whereas at later stages, a decay in protein abundance was observable. Our investigation showcases the upscaling of an optogenetic production process from small flasks to a bioreactor. Optogenetic-controlled production in a fermenter is highly cost-effective due to the cheap inducer and therefore a viable alternative to chemicals for a process that requires an induction step. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Gramazio
- Department of Science and Technology, Universita' degli studi del Sannio, Benevento, 82100, Italy
| | - Jonathan Trauth
- Department of Biology/Genetics, Philipps-University Marburg, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Filipp Bezold
- Unit for Structural Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lars-Oliver Essen
- Unit for Structural Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Christof Taxis
- Department of Biology/Genetics, Philipps-University Marburg, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Roberta Spadaccini
- Department of Science and Technology, Universita' degli studi del Sannio, Benevento, 82100, Italy
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8
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Hoffman SM, Tang AY, Avalos JL. Optogenetics Illuminates Applications in Microbial Engineering. Annu Rev Chem Biomol Eng 2022; 13:373-403. [PMID: 35320696 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-092120-092340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetics has been used in a variety of microbial engineering applications, such as chemical and protein production, studies of cell physiology, and engineered microbe-host interactions. These diverse applications benefit from the precise spatiotemporal control that light affords, as well as its tunability, reversibility, and orthogonality. This combination of unique capabilities has enabled a surge of studies in recent years investigating complex biological systems with completely new approaches. We briefly describe the optogenetic tools that have been developed for microbial engineering, emphasizing the scientific advancements that they have enabled. In particular, we focus on the unique benefits and applications of implementing optogenetic control, from bacterial therapeutics to cybergenetics. Finally, we discuss future research directions, with special attention given to the development of orthogonal multichromatic controls. With an abundance of advantages offered by optogenetics, the future is bright in microbial engineering. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Volume 13 is October 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M Hoffman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA; , ,
| | - Allison Y Tang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA; , ,
| | - José L Avalos
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA; , , .,The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Department of Molecular Biology, and High Meadows Environmental Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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9
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Pérez ALA, Piva LC, Fulber JPC, de Moraes LMP, De Marco JL, Vieira HLA, Coelho CM, Reis VCB, Torres FAG. Optogenetic strategies for the control of gene expression in yeasts. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 54:107839. [PMID: 34592347 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetics involves the use of light to control cellular functions and has become increasingly popular in various areas of research, especially in the precise control of gene expression. While this technology is already well established in neurobiology and basic research, its use in bioprocess development is still emerging. Some optogenetic switches have been implemented in yeasts for different purposes, taking advantage of a wide repertoire of biological parts and relatively easy genetic manipulation. In this review, we cover the current strategies used for the construction of yeast strains to be used in optogenetically controlled protein or metabolite production, as well as the operational aspects to be considered for the scale-up of this type of process. Finally, we discuss the main applications of optogenetic switches in yeast systems and highlight the main advantages and challenges of bioprocess development considering future directions for this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Laura A Pérez
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Bloco K, 1° andar, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Luiza C Piva
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Bloco K, 1° andar, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Julia P C Fulber
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Bloco K, 1° andar, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Lidia M P de Moraes
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Bloco K, 1° andar, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Janice L De Marco
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Bloco K, 1° andar, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Hugo L A Vieira
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Bloco K, 1° andar, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Cintia M Coelho
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Bloco K, 1° andar, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Viviane C B Reis
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Bloco K, 1° andar, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Fernando A G Torres
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Bloco K, 1° andar, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil.
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10
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Abstract
Microorganisms live in dense and diverse communities, with interactions between cells guiding community development and phenotype. The ability to perturb specific intercellular interactions in space and time provides a powerful route to determining the critical interactions and design rules for microbial communities. Approaches using optogenetic tools to modulate these interactions offer promise, as light can be exquisitely controlled in space and time. We report new plasmids for rapid integration of an optogenetic system into Saccharomyces cerevisiae to engineer light control of expression of a gene of interest. In a proof-of-principle study, we demonstrate the ability to control a model cooperative interaction, namely, the expression of the enzyme invertase (SUC2) which allows S. cerevisiae to hydrolyze sucrose and utilize it as a carbon source. We demonstrate that the strength of this cooperative interaction can be tuned in space and time by modulating light intensity and through spatial control of illumination. Spatial control of light allows cooperators and cheaters to be spatially segregated, and we show that the interplay between cooperative and inhibitory interactions in space can lead to pattern formation. Our strategy can be applied to achieve spatiotemporal control of expression of a gene of interest in S. cerevisiae to perturb both intercellular and interspecies interactions. IMPORTANCE Recent advances in microbial ecology have highlighted the importance of intercellular interactions in controlling the development, composition, and resilience of microbial communities. In order to better understand the role of these interactions in governing community development, it is critical to be able to alter them in a controlled manner. Optogenetically controlled interactions offer advantages over static perturbations or chemically controlled interactions, as light can be manipulated in space and time and does not require the addition of nutrients or antibiotics. Here, we report a system for rapidly achieving light control of a gene of interest in the important model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae and demonstrate that by controlling expression of the enzyme invertase, we can control cooperative interactions. This approach will be useful for understanding intercellular and interspecies interactions in natural and synthetic microbial consortia containing S. cerevisiae and serves as a proof of principle for implementing this approach in other consortia.
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11
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Lalwani MA, Zhao EM, Wegner SA, Avalos JL. The Neurospora crassa Inducible Q System Enables Simultaneous Optogenetic Amplification and Inversion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for Bidirectional Control of Gene Expression. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:2060-2075. [PMID: 34346207 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Bidirectional optogenetic control of yeast gene expression has great potential for biotechnological applications. Our group has developed optogenetic inverter circuits that activate transcription using darkness, as well as amplifier circuits that reach high expression levels under limited light. However, because both types of circuits harness Gal4p and Gal80p from the galactose (GAL) regulon they cannot be used simultaneously. Here, we apply the Q System, a transcriptional activator/inhibitor system from Neurospora crassa, to build circuits in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that are inducible using quinic acid, darkness, or blue light. We develop light-repressed OptoQ-INVRT circuits that initiate darkness-triggered transcription within an hour of induction, as well as light-activated OptoQ-AMP circuits that achieve up to 39-fold induction. The Q System does not exhibit crosstalk with the GAL regulon, allowing coutilization of OptoQ-AMP circuits with previously developed OptoINVRT circuits. As a demonstration of practical applications in metabolic engineering, we show how simultaneous use of these circuits can be used to dynamically control both growth and production to improve acetoin production, as well as enable light-tunable co-production of geraniol and linalool, two terpenoids implicated in the hoppy flavor of beer. OptoQ-AMP and OptoQ-INVRT circuits enable simultaneous optogenetic signal amplification and inversion, providing powerful additions to the yeast optogenetic toolkit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto A. Lalwani
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Evan M. Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Scott A. Wegner
- Department of Molecular Biology. Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - José L. Avalos
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
- Department of Molecular Biology. Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
- The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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12
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Modular and Molecular Optimization of a LOV (Light-Oxygen-Voltage)-Based Optogenetic Switch in Yeast. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168538. [PMID: 34445244 PMCID: PMC8395189 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Optogenetic switches allow light-controlled gene expression with reversible and spatiotemporal resolution. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, optogenetic tools hold great potential for a variety of metabolic engineering and biotechnology applications. In this work, we report on the modular optimization of the fungal light-oxygen-voltage (FUN-LOV) system, an optogenetic switch based on photoreceptors from the fungus Neurospora crassa. We also describe new switch variants obtained by replacing the Gal4 DNA-binding domain (DBD) of FUN-LOV with nine different DBDs from yeast transcription factors of the zinc cluster family. Among the tested modules, the variant carrying the Hap1p DBD, which we call "HAP-LOV", displayed higher levels of luciferase expression upon induction compared to FUN-LOV. Further, the combination of the Hap1p DBD with either p65 or VP16 activation domains also resulted in higher levels of reporter expression compared to the original switch. Finally, we assessed the effects of the plasmid copy number and promoter strength controlling the expression of the FUN-LOV and HAP-LOV components, and observed that when low-copy plasmids and strong promoters were used, a stronger response was achieved in both systems. Altogether, we describe a new set of blue-light optogenetic switches carrying different protein modules, which expands the available suite of optogenetic tools in yeast and can additionally be applied to other systems.
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Gheorghiu M, Polonschii C, Popescu O, Gheorghiu E. Advanced Optogenetic-Based Biosensing and Related Biomaterials. MATERIALS 2021; 14:ma14154151. [PMID: 34361345 PMCID: PMC8347019 DOI: 10.3390/ma14154151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The ability to stimulate mammalian cells with light, brought along by optogenetic control, has significantly broadened our understanding of electrically excitable tissues. Backed by advanced (bio)materials, it has recently paved the way towards novel biosensing concepts supporting bio-analytics applications transversal to the main biomedical stream. The advancements concerning enabling biomaterials and related novel biosensing concepts involving optogenetics are reviewed with particular focus on the use of engineered cells for cell-based sensing platforms and the available toolbox (from mere actuators and reporters to novel multifunctional opto-chemogenetic tools) for optogenetic-enabled real-time cellular diagnostics and biosensor development. The key advantages of these modified cell-based biosensors concern both significantly faster (minutes instead of hours) and higher sensitivity detection of low concentrations of bioactive/toxic analytes (below the threshold concentrations in classical cellular sensors) as well as improved standardization as warranted by unified analytic platforms. These novel multimodal functional electro-optical label-free assays are reviewed among the key elements for optogenetic-based biosensing standardization. This focused review is a potential guide for materials researchers interested in biosensing based on light-responsive biomaterials and related analytic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Gheorghiu
- International Centre of Biodynamics, 1B Intrarea Portocalelor, 060101 Bucharest, Romania;
- Correspondence: (M.G.); (E.G.)
| | - Cristina Polonschii
- International Centre of Biodynamics, 1B Intrarea Portocalelor, 060101 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Octavian Popescu
- Molecular Biology Center, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research in Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babes-Bolyai-University, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- Institute of Biology Bucharest, Romanian Academy, 296 Splaiul Independentei, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Eugen Gheorghiu
- International Centre of Biodynamics, 1B Intrarea Portocalelor, 060101 Bucharest, Romania;
- Correspondence: (M.G.); (E.G.)
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