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Joshi SHN, Jenkins C, Ulaeto D, Gorochowski TE. Accelerating Genetic Sensor Development, Scale-up, and Deployment Using Synthetic Biology. BIODESIGN RESEARCH 2024; 6:0037. [PMID: 38919711 PMCID: PMC11197468 DOI: 10.34133/bdr.0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Living cells are exquisitely tuned to sense and respond to changes in their environment. Repurposing these systems to create engineered biosensors has seen growing interest in the field of synthetic biology and provides a foundation for many innovative applications spanning environmental monitoring to improved biobased production. In this review, we present a detailed overview of currently available biosensors and the methods that have supported their development, scale-up, and deployment. We focus on genetic sensors in living cells whose outputs affect gene expression. We find that emerging high-throughput experimental assays and evolutionary approaches combined with advanced bioinformatics and machine learning are establishing pipelines to produce genetic sensors for virtually any small molecule, protein, or nucleic acid. However, more complex sensing tasks based on classifying compositions of many stimuli and the reliable deployment of these systems into real-world settings remain challenges. We suggest that recent advances in our ability to precisely modify nonmodel organisms and the integration of proven control engineering principles (e.g., feedback) into the broader design of genetic sensing systems will be necessary to overcome these hurdles and realize the immense potential of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher Jenkins
- CBR Division, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Wiltshire SP4 0JQ, UK
| | - David Ulaeto
- CBR Division, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Wiltshire SP4 0JQ, UK
| | - Thomas E. Gorochowski
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
- BrisEngBio,
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
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Wang Z, Ma R, Chen B, Yu X, Wang X, Zuo X, Liang B, Yang J. A transcription factor-based bacterial biosensor system and its application for on-site detection of explosives. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 244:115805. [PMID: 37948915 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Detecting unexploded landmines is critical due to the environmental pollution and potential humanitarian risks caused by buried landmines. Therefore, this study focused on developing a biosensor system capable of detecting explosives safely and efficiently. A novel transcription factor-based Escherichia coli biosensor was designed to detect 1,3-dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB). The MexT transcription factor from Pseudomonas putida (P. putida) was identified as the fundamental sensing element in this biosensor. The study found that MexT positively regulated the transcription of PP_2827 by binding to the bidirectional promoter region between them, and significantly enhanced the expression of downstream genes under the condition of 1,3-DNB. The MexT-based biosensor for 1,3-DNB was developed by adopting different combinations of the mexT gene and promoters. The optimized biosensor demonstrated adequate sensitivity for detecting 0.1 μg/mL of 1,3-DNB in a liquid solution with satisfactory specificity and long-term stability. Subsequently, the MexT-based biosensor was integrated into a detection device to simulate the in-field exploration of explosives. The system exhibited a detection sensitivity of 0.5 mg/kg for 1,3-DNB in the sand, and realized the detection of on-site and large-scale area and the location of buried 1,3-DNB under the soil. The study provided a novel transcription factor-based bacterial biosensor and a complete system (China Earth Eye, CEE) for sensitive detection of 1,3-DNB. The good performance of this biosensor system can facilitate the development of accurate, on-site, and high-efficient exploration of explosives in real extensive minefields. Moreover, this 1,3-DNB biosensor can be complementary to the 2,4-DNT biosensor reported before, demonstrating its potential applications in military situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaobao Wang
- Energy-rich Compound Production by Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Research Center, Shandong Key Lab of Applied Mycology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, PR China
| | - Ran Ma
- Energy-rich Compound Production by Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Research Center, Shandong Key Lab of Applied Mycology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, PR China
| | - Bingjing Chen
- Energy-rich Compound Production by Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Research Center, Shandong Key Lab of Applied Mycology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, PR China
| | - Xiaotong Yu
- Energy-rich Compound Production by Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Research Center, Shandong Key Lab of Applied Mycology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, PR China
| | - Xue Wang
- Energy-rich Compound Production by Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Research Center, Shandong Key Lab of Applied Mycology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, PR China
| | - Xinyun Zuo
- Energy-rich Compound Production by Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Research Center, Shandong Key Lab of Applied Mycology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, PR China
| | - Bo Liang
- Energy-rich Compound Production by Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Research Center, Shandong Key Lab of Applied Mycology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, PR China.
| | - Jianming Yang
- Energy-rich Compound Production by Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Research Center, Shandong Key Lab of Applied Mycology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, PR China.
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Li M, Lv S, Yang R, Chu X, Wang X, Wang Z, Peng L, Yang J. Development of lycopene-based whole-cell biosensors for the visual detection of trace explosives and heavy metals. Anal Chim Acta 2023; 1283:341934. [PMID: 37977799 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341934] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Residual explosives in conflicting zones have caused irreversible damage to human safety and the environment. Whole-cell biosensors can to detect remnants of buried explosives, such as 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), a stable and highly volatile compound in explosives. However, all the reported whole-cell biosensors utilize fluorescence or luminescence as the biological markers, making their detection difficult in real minefields. Here, we presented a lycopene-based whole-cell biosensor in Escherichia coli to output visible signals in response to DNT, which can help in the visual detection of buried explosives. To construct the whole-cell biosensor, the DNT-responsive promoter yqjF was used as the sensing element, and the lycopene synthetic gene cassette crtEBI was served as the reporting element. Then, the metabolic flux for lycopene production was enhanced to improve the output signal of the whole-cell biosensor, and a terminator was utilized to reduce the background interference. The optimized biosensor LSZ05 could perceive at least 1 mg/L DNT. The DNT-specificity and robust performance of the biosensor under different environmental factors were confirmed. Our results showed that converting the biosensor into a lyophilized powder was an effective storage method. The biosensor LSZ05 could effectively detect DNT in two kinds of soil samples. The lycopene-based whole-cell biosensor could also be used to visually detect heavy metals. Our findings laid the foundation for visually detecting buried explosives in minefields, which was a valuable supplement to the reported biosensors. The methods used for optimizing the lycopene-based whole-cell biosensor, including the improvement of the output signal and reduction of background interference, were quite effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meijie Li
- Energy-rich Compound Production By Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Research Center, Shandong Key Lab of Applied Mycology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, No. 700 Changchen Road, Qingdao, 266109, PR China.
| | - Shuzhe Lv
- Energy-rich Compound Production By Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Research Center, Shandong Key Lab of Applied Mycology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, No. 700 Changchen Road, Qingdao, 266109, PR China.
| | - Rumeng Yang
- Energy-rich Compound Production By Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Research Center, Shandong Key Lab of Applied Mycology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, No. 700 Changchen Road, Qingdao, 266109, PR China.
| | - Xiaohan Chu
- Energy-rich Compound Production By Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Research Center, Shandong Key Lab of Applied Mycology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, No. 700 Changchen Road, Qingdao, 266109, PR China.
| | - Xu Wang
- Energy-rich Compound Production By Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Research Center, Shandong Key Lab of Applied Mycology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, No. 700 Changchen Road, Qingdao, 266109, PR China.
| | - Ziyu Wang
- Energy-rich Compound Production By Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Research Center, Shandong Key Lab of Applied Mycology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, No. 700 Changchen Road, Qingdao, 266109, PR China.
| | - Limin Peng
- Shandong TV University, Jinan, 250014, PR China.
| | - Jianming Yang
- Energy-rich Compound Production By Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation Research Center, Shandong Key Lab of Applied Mycology, College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, No. 700 Changchen Road, Qingdao, 266109, PR China.
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Kim M, Kang R, Jeon TJ, Ryu SE. Structural basis of transcription factor YhaJ for DNT detection. iScience 2023; 26:107984. [PMID: 37822509 PMCID: PMC10562874 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Detection of landmines without harming personnel is a global issue. The bacterial transcription factor YhaJ selectively detects metabolites of explosives, and it can be used as a key component of DNT biosensors. However, the wild-type YhaJ has a binding affinity that is not sufficient for the detection of trace amounts of explosives leaked from landmines buried in the soil. Here, we report crystal structures of the effector-binding domain of YhaJ in both the apo- and effector-bound forms. A structural comparison of the two forms revealed that the loop above the primary effector-binding site significantly switches its conformation upon effector binding. The primary effector-binding site involves hydrophobic and polar interactions, having specificity to hydroxyl-substituted benzene compounds. The structures explain the mechanism of activity-enhancing mutations and provide information for the rational engineering of YhaJ biosensors for the sensitive detection of explosives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myeongbin Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04673, Republic of Korea
| | - Ryun Kang
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04673, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Jin Jeon
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04673, Republic of Korea
- National Instrumentation Center for Environmental Management (NICEM), Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Eon Ryu
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04673, Republic of Korea
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Wang Q, Hu Z, Li Z, Liu T, Bian G. Exploring the Application and Prospects of Synthetic Biology in Engineered Living Materials. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023:e2305828. [PMID: 37677048 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202305828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
At the intersection of synthetic biology and materials science, engineered living materials (ELMs) exhibit unprecedented potential. Possessing unique "living" attributes, ELMs represent a significant paradigm shift in material design, showcasing self-organization, self-repair, adaptability, and evolvability, surpassing conventional synthetic materials. This review focuses on reviewing the applications of ELMs derived from bacteria, fungi, and plants in environmental remediation, eco-friendly architecture, and sustainable energy. The review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research progress and emerging design strategies for ELMs in various application fields from the perspectives of synthetic biology and materials science. In addition, the review provides valuable references for the design of novel ELMs, extending the potential applications of future ELMs. The investigation into the synergistic application possibilities amongst different species of ELMs offers beneficial reference information for researchers and practitioners in this field. Finally, future trends and development challenges of synthetic biology for ELMs in the coming years are discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiwen Wang
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Center of Materials Synthetic Biology, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zhehui Hu
- Center of Materials Synthetic Biology, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zhixuan Li
- Center of Materials Synthetic Biology, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Tiangang Liu
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Guangkai Bian
- Center of Materials Synthetic Biology, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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Qin C, Wang Y, Hu J, Wang T, Liu D, Dong J, Lu Y. Artificial Olfactory Biohybrid System: An Evolving Sense of Smell. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2204726. [PMID: 36529960 PMCID: PMC9929144 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202204726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The olfactory system can detect and recognize tens of thousands of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at low concentrations in complex environments. Bioelectronic nose (B-EN), which mimics olfactory systems, is becoming an emerging sensing technology for identifying VOCs with sensitivity and specificity. B-ENs integrate electronic sensors with bioreceptors and pattern recognition technologies to enable medical diagnosis, public security, environmental monitoring, and food safety. However, there is currently no commercially available B-EN on the market. Apart from the high selectivity and sensitivity necessary for volatile organic compound analysis, commercial B-ENs must overcome issues impacting sensor operation and other problems associated with odor localization. The emergence of nanotechnology has provided a novel research concept for addressing these problems. In this work, the structure and operational mechanisms of biomimetic olfactory systems are discussed, with an emphasis on the development and immobilization of materials. Various biosensor applications and current developments are reviewed. Challenges and opportunities for fulfilling the potential of artificial olfactory biohybrid systems in fundamental and practical research are investigated in greater depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanting Qin
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiocatalysisMinistry of EducationDepartment of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
- Tianjin Industrial Microbiology Key LaboratoryCollege of BiotechnologyTianjin University of Science and TechnologyTianjin300457China
| | - Yi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiocatalysisMinistry of EducationDepartment of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
- Tianjin Industrial Microbiology Key LaboratoryCollege of BiotechnologyTianjin University of Science and TechnologyTianjin300457China
| | - Jiawang Hu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiocatalysisMinistry of EducationDepartment of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Ting Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiocatalysisMinistry of EducationDepartment of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Dong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiocatalysisMinistry of EducationDepartment of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
| | - Jian Dong
- Tianjin Industrial Microbiology Key LaboratoryCollege of BiotechnologyTianjin University of Science and TechnologyTianjin300457China
| | - Yuan Lu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial BiocatalysisMinistry of EducationDepartment of Chemical EngineeringTsinghua UniversityBeijing100084China
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Zhou T, Liang Z, Marchisio MA. Engineering a two-gene system to operate as a highly sensitive biosensor or a sharp switch upon induction with β-estradiol. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21791. [PMID: 36526685 PMCID: PMC9758199 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26195-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The human estrogen receptor has been used for about thirty years, in the yeast S. cerevisiae, as a component of chimeric transcription factors. Its ligand, β-estradiol, permits to control the protein translocation into the nucleus and, as a consequence, the expression of the gene(s) targeted by the synthetic transcription factor. Activators that are orthogonal to the yeast genome have been realized by fusing the human estrogen receptor to an activation and a DNA-binding domain from bacteria, viruses, or higher eukaryotes. In this work, we optimized the working of a β-estradiol-sensing device-in terms of detection range and maximal output signal-where the human estrogen receptor is flanked by the bacterial protein LexA and either the strong VP64 (from herpes simplex virus) or the weaker B42 (from E. coli) activation domain. We enhanced the biosensor performance by thoroughly engineering both the chimeric activator and the reporter protein expression cassette. In particular, we constructed a synthetic promoter-where transcription is induced by the chimeric activators-based on the core sequence of the yeast CYC1 promoter, by tuning parameters such as the length of the 5' UTR, the distance between adjacent LexA binding sites (operators), and the spacing between the whole operator region and the main promoter TATA box. We found a configuration that works both as a highly sensitive biosensor and a sharp switch depending on the concentration of the chimeric activator and the strength of its activation domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Zhou
- grid.33763.320000 0004 1761 2484School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300072 China
| | - Zhiying Liang
- grid.19373.3f0000 0001 0193 3564School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, 2 Yikuang Street, Harbin, 150080 China
| | - Mario Andrea Marchisio
- grid.33763.320000 0004 1761 2484School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300072 China
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Transcription Factor-Based Biosensors for Detecting Pathogens. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12070470. [PMID: 35884273 PMCID: PMC9312912 DOI: 10.3390/bios12070470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Microorganisms are omnipresent and inseparable from our life. Many of them are beneficial to humans, while some are not. Importantly, foods and beverages are susceptible to microbial contamination, with their toxins causing illnesses and even death in some cases. Therefore, monitoring and detecting harmful microorganisms are critical to ensuring human health and safety. For several decades, many methods have been developed to detect and monitor microorganisms and their toxicants. Conventionally, nucleic acid analysis and antibody-based analysis were used to detect pathogens. Additionally, diverse chromatographic methods were employed to detect toxins based on their chemical and structural properties. However, conventional techniques have several disadvantages concerning analysis time, sensitivity, and expense. With the advances in biotechnology, new approaches to detect pathogens and toxins have been reported to compensate for the disadvantages of conventional analysis from different research fields, including electrochemistry, nanotechnology, and molecular biology. Among them, we focused on the recent studies of transcription factor (TF)-based biosensors to detect microorganisms and discuss their perspectives and applications. Additionally, the other biosensors for detecting microorganisms reported in recent studies were also introduced in this review.
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