Lienemann M, TerAvest MA, Pitkänen J, Stuns I, Penttilä M, Ajo‐Franklin CM, Jäntti J. Towards patterned bioelectronics: facilitated immobilization of exoelectrogenic Escherichia coli with heterologous pili.
Microb Biotechnol 2018;
11:1184-1194. [PMID:
30296001 PMCID:
PMC6196383 DOI:
10.1111/1751-7915.13309]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Biosensors detect signals using biological sensing components such as redox enzymes and biological cells. Although cellular versatility can be beneficial for different applications, limited stability and efficiency in signal transduction at electrode surfaces represent a challenge. Recent studies have shown that the Mtr electron conduit from Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 can be produced in Escherichia coli to generate an exoelectrogenic model system with well-characterized genetic tools. However, means to specifically immobilize this organism at solid substrates as electroactive biofilms have not been tested previously. Here, we show that mannose-binding Fim pili can be produced in exoelectrogenic E. coli and can be used to selectively attach cells to a mannose-coated material. Importantly, cells expressing fim genes retained current production by the heterologous Mtr electron conduit. Our results demonstrate the versatility of the exoelectrogenic E. coli system and motivate future work that aims to produce patterned biofilms for bioelectronic devices that can respond to various biochemical signals.
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