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Yu W, Zhang S, Zhao S, Chen LG, Cao J, Ye H, Yan J, Zhao Q, Mo B, Wang Y, Jiao Y, Ma Y, Huang X, Qian W, Dai J. Designing a synthetic moss genome using GenoDesigner. NATURE PLANTS 2024; 10:848-856. [PMID: 38831044 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-024-01693-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
The de novo synthesis of genomes has made unprecedented progress and achieved milestones, particularly in bacteria and yeast. However, the process of synthesizing a multicellular plant genome has not progressed at the same pace, due to the complexity of multicellular plant genomes, technical difficulties associated with large genome size and structure, and the intricacies of gene regulation and expression in plants. Here we outline the bottom-up design principles for the de novo synthesis of the Physcomitrium patens (that is, earthmoss) genome. To facilitate international collaboration and accessibility, we have developed and launched a public online design platform called GenoDesigner. This platform offers an intuitive graphical interface enabling users to efficiently manipulate extensive genome sequences, even up to the gigabase level. This tool is poised to greatly expedite the synthesis of the P. patens genome, offering an essential reference and roadmap for the synthesis of plant genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfei Yu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shijun Zhao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lian-Ge Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Cao
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hao Ye
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianbin Yan
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qiao Zhao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Beixin Mo
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ying Wang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuling Jiao
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yingxin Ma
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoluo Huang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Wenfeng Qian
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Junbiao Dai
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
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2
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Gómez-Márquez J. The Lithbea Domain. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2300679. [PMID: 38386280 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
The tree of life is the evolutionary metaphor for the past and present connections of all cellular organisms. Today, to speak of biodiversity is not only to speak of archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes, but they should also consider the "new biodiversity" that includes viruses and synthetic organisms, which represent the new forms of life created in laboratories. There is even a third group of artificial entities that, although not living systems, pretend to imitate the living. To embrace and organize all this new biodiversity, I propose the creation of a new domain, with the name Lithbea (from life-on-the-border entites) The criteria for inclusion as members of Lithbea are: i) the acellular nature of the living system, ii) its origin in laboratory manipulation, iii) showing new biological traits, iv) the presence of exogenous genetic elements, v) artificial or inorganic nature. Within Lithbea there are two subdomains: Virworld (from virus world) which includes all viruses, regarded as lifeless living systems, and classified according to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), and ii) Humade (from human-made) which includes all synthetic organisms and artificial entities. The relationships of Lithbea members to the three classical woesian domains and their implications are briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Gómez-Márquez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, 15782, Spain
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3
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Castle SD, Stock M, Gorochowski TE. Engineering is evolution: a perspective on design processes to engineer biology. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3640. [PMID: 38684714 PMCID: PMC11059173 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48000-1] [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: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Careful consideration of how we approach design is crucial to all areas of biotechnology. However, choosing or developing an effective design methodology is not always easy as biology, unlike most areas of engineering, is able to adapt and evolve. Here, we put forward that design and evolution follow a similar cyclic process and therefore all design methods, including traditional design, directed evolution, and even random trial and error, exist within an evolutionary design spectrum. This contrasts with conventional views that often place these methods at odds and provides a valuable framework for unifying engineering approaches for challenging biological design problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeon D Castle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, UK.
| | - Michiel Stock
- KERMIT, Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas E Gorochowski
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, UK.
- BrisEngBio, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, UK.
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4
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Schindler D, Walker RSK, Cai Y. Methodological advances enabled by the construction of a synthetic yeast genome. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2024; 4:100761. [PMID: 38653205 PMCID: PMC11046031 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The international Synthetic Yeast Project (Sc2.0) aims to construct the first synthetic designer eukaryote genome. Over the past few years, the Sc2.0 consortium has achieved several significant milestones by synthesizing and characterizing all 16 nuclear chromosomes of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as well as a 17thde novo neochromosome containing all nuclear tRNA genes. In this commentary, we discuss the recent technological advances achieved in this project and provide a perspective on how they will impact the emerging field of synthetic genomics in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Schindler
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany; Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps-University Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germany.
| | - Roy S K Walker
- School of Natural Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Yizhi Cai
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester M1 7DN, UK.
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5
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Lindeboom TA, Sanchez Olmos MDC, Schulz K, Brinkmann CK, Ramírez Rojas AA, Hochrein L, Schindler D. An Optimized Genotyping Workflow for Identifying Highly SCRaMbLEd Synthetic Yeasts. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:1116-1127. [PMID: 38597458 PMCID: PMC11036488 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic Sc2.0 yeast strains contain hundreds to thousands of loxPsym recombination sites that allow restructuring of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome by SCRaMbLE. Thus, a highly diverse yeast population can arise from a single genotype. The selection of genetically diverse candidates with rearranged synthetic chromosomes for downstream analysis requires an efficient and straightforward workflow. Here we present loxTags, a set of qPCR primers for genotyping across loxPsym sites to detect not only deletions but also inversions and translocations after SCRaMbLE. To cope with the large number of amplicons, we generated qTagGer, a qPCR genotyping primer prediction tool. Using loxTag-based genotyping and long-read sequencing, we show that light-inducible Cre recombinase L-SCRaMbLE can efficiently generate diverse recombination events when applied to Sc2.0 strains containing a linear or a circular version of synthetic chromosome III.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timon A Lindeboom
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Karina Schulz
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24/25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Cedric K Brinkmann
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Adán A Ramírez Rojas
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Lena Hochrein
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24/25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Daniel Schindler
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 14, 35032Marburg, Germany
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6
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Billerbeck S, Walker RSK, Pretorius IS. Killer yeasts: expanding frontiers in the age of synthetic biology. Trends Biotechnol 2024:S0167-7799(24)00067-2. [PMID: 38575438 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.03.003] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Killer yeasts secrete protein toxins that are selectively lethal to other yeast and filamentous fungi. These exhibit exceptional genetic and functional diversity, and have several biotechnological applications. However, despite decades of research, several limitations hinder their widespread adoption. In this perspective we contend that technical advances in synthetic biology present an unprecedented opportunity to unlock the full potential of yeast killer systems across a spectrum of applications. By leveraging these new technologies, engineered killer toxins may emerge as a pivotal new tool to address antifungal resistance and food security. Finally, we speculate on the biotechnological potential of re-engineering host double-stranded (ds) RNA mycoviruses, from which many toxins derive, as a safe and noninfectious system to produce designer RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Billerbeck
- Molecular Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology institute, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747, AG, The Netherlands
| | - Roy S K Walker
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Isak S Pretorius
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia.
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7
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Zimmermann A, Prieto-Vivas JE, Voordeckers K, Bi C, Verstrepen KJ. Mutagenesis techniques for evolutionary engineering of microbes - exploiting CRISPR-Cas, oligonucleotides, recombinases, and polymerases. Trends Microbiol 2024:S0966-842X(24)00046-5. [PMID: 38493013 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2024.02.006] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
The natural process of evolutionary adaptation is often exploited as a powerful tool to obtain microbes with desirable traits. For industrial microbes, evolutionary engineering is often used to generate variants that show increased yields or resistance to stressful industrial environments, thus obtaining superior microbial cell factories. However, even in large populations, the natural supply of beneficial mutations is typically low, which implies that obtaining improved microbes is often time-consuming and inefficient. To overcome this limitation, different techniques have been developed that boost mutation rates. While some of these methods simply increase the overall mutation rate across a genome, others use recent developments in DNA synthesis, synthetic biology, and CRISPR-Cas techniques to control the type and location of mutations. This review summarizes the most important recent developments and methods in the field of evolutionary engineering in model microorganisms. It discusses how both in vitro and in vivo approaches can increase the genetic diversity of the host, with a special emphasis on in vivo techniques for the optimization of metabolic pathways for precision fermentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Zimmermann
- VIB Laboratory for Systems Biology, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Leuven, 3001, Belgium; CMPG Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, Department M2S, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Julian E Prieto-Vivas
- VIB Laboratory for Systems Biology, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Leuven, 3001, Belgium; CMPG Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, Department M2S, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Karin Voordeckers
- VIB Laboratory for Systems Biology, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Leuven, 3001, Belgium; CMPG Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, Department M2S, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3001, Belgium
| | - Changhao Bi
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China; College of Life Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Kevin J Verstrepen
- VIB Laboratory for Systems Biology, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Leuven, 3001, Belgium; CMPG Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, Department M2S, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3001, Belgium; VIB-VIB Joint Center of Synthetic Biology, National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China.
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8
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Goold HD, Moseley JL, Lauersen KJ. The synthetic future of algal genomes. CELL GENOMICS 2024; 4:100505. [PMID: 38395701 PMCID: PMC10943592 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Algae are diverse organisms with significant biotechnological potential for resource circularity. Taking inspiration from fermentative microbes, engineering algal genomes holds promise to broadly expand their application ranges. Advances in genome sequencing with improvements in DNA synthesis and delivery techniques are enabling customized molecular tool development to confer advanced traits to algae. Efforts to redesign and rebuild entire genomes to create fit-for-purpose organisms currently being explored in heterotrophic prokaryotes and eukaryotic microbes could also be applied to photosynthetic algae. Future algal genome engineering will enhance yields of native products and permit the expression of complex biochemical pathways to produce novel metabolites from sustainable inputs. We present a historical perspective on advances in engineering algae, discuss the requisite genetic traits to enable algal genome optimization, take inspiration from whole-genome engineering efforts in other microbes for algal systems, and present candidate algal species in the context of these engineering goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugh D Goold
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia; ARC Center of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Jeffrey L Moseley
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Division of Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Phycoil Biotechnology International, Inc., Fremont, CA 94538, USA
| | - Kyle J Lauersen
- Bioengineering Program, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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9
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Coradini ALV, Ville CN, Krieger ZA, Roemer J, Hull C, Yang S, Lusk DT, Ehrenreich IM. Building synthetic chromosomes from natural DNA. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8337. [PMID: 38123566 PMCID: PMC10733283 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44112-2] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
De novo chromosome synthesis is costly and time-consuming, limiting its use in research and biotechnology. Building synthetic chromosomes from natural components is an unexplored alternative with many potential applications. In this paper, we report CReATiNG (Cloning, Reprogramming, and Assembling Tiled Natural Genomic DNA), a method for constructing synthetic chromosomes from natural components in yeast. CReATiNG entails cloning segments of natural chromosomes and then programmably assembling them into synthetic chromosomes that can replace the native chromosomes in cells. We use CReATiNG to synthetically recombine chromosomes between strains and species, to modify chromosome structure, and to delete many linked, non-adjacent regions totaling 39% of a chromosome. The multiplex deletion experiment reveals that CReATiNG also enables recovery from flaws in synthetic chromosome design via recombination between a synthetic chromosome and its native counterpart. CReATiNG facilitates the application of chromosome synthesis to diverse biological problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro L V Coradini
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
| | - Christopher Ne Ville
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Zachary A Krieger
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Joshua Roemer
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Cara Hull
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Shawn Yang
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Daniel T Lusk
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Ian M Ehrenreich
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
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10
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Abramczyk D, Del Carmen Sanchez Olmos M, Rojas AAR, Schindler D, Robertson D, McColm S, Marston AL, Barlow PN. A supernumerary synthetic chromosome in Komagataella phaffii as a repository for extraneous genetic material. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:259. [PMID: 38104077 PMCID: PMC10724962 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02262-4] [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: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris) is a methylotrophic commercially important non-conventional species of yeast that grows in a fermentor to exceptionally high densities on simple media and secretes recombinant proteins efficiently. Genetic engineering strategies are being explored in this organism to facilitate cost-effective biomanufacturing. Small, stable artificial chromosomes in K. phaffii could offer unique advantages by accommodating multiple integrations of extraneous genes and their promoters without accumulating perturbations of native chromosomes or exhausting the availability of selection markers. RESULTS Here, we describe a linear "nano"chromosome (of 15-25 kb) that, according to whole-genome sequencing, persists in K. phaffii over many generations with a copy number per cell of one, provided non-homologous end joining is compromised (by KU70-knockout). The nanochromosome includes a copy of the centromere from K. phaffii chromosome 3, a K. phaffii-derived autonomously replicating sequence on either side of the centromere, and a pair of K. phaffii-like telomeres. It contains, within its q arm, a landing zone in which genes of interest alternate with long (approx. 1-kb) non-coding DNA chosen to facilitate homologous recombination and serve as spacers. The landing zone can be extended along the nanochromosome, in an inch-worming mode of sequential gene integrations, accompanied by recycling of just two antibiotic-resistance markers. The nanochromosome was used to express PDI, a gene encoding protein disulfide isomerase. Co-expression with PDI allowed the production, from a genomically integrated gene, of secreted murine complement factor H, a plasma protein containing 40 disulfide bonds. As further proof-of-principle, we co-expressed, from a nanochromosome, both PDI and a gene for GFP-tagged human complement factor H under the control of PAOX1 and demonstrated that the secreted protein was active as a regulator of the complement system. CONCLUSIONS We have added K. phaffii to the list of organisms that can produce human proteins from genes carried on a stable, linear, artificial chromosome. We envisage using nanochromosomes as repositories for numerous extraneous genes, allowing intensive engineering of K. phaffii without compromising its genome or weakening the resulting strain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Daniel Schindler
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Robertson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Adele L Marston
- The Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Paul N Barlow
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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11
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Bai S, Luo H, Tong H, Wu Y. Application and Technical Challenges in Design, Cloning, and Transfer of Large DNA. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:1425. [PMID: 38136016 PMCID: PMC10740618 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10121425] [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: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In the field of synthetic biology, rapid advancements in DNA assembly and editing have made it possible to manipulate large DNA, even entire genomes. These advancements have facilitated the introduction of long metabolic pathways, the creation of large-scale disease models, and the design and assembly of synthetic mega-chromosomes. Generally, the introduction of large DNA in host cells encompasses three critical steps: design-cloning-transfer. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the three key steps involved in large DNA transfer to advance the field of synthetic genomics and large DNA engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Bai
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Frontiers Research Institute for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Han Luo
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Frontiers Research Institute for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Hanze Tong
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Frontiers Research Institute for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yi Wu
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Frontiers Research Institute for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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12
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Zhao Y, Coelho C, Hughes AL, Lazar-Stefanita L, Yang S, Brooks AN, Walker RSK, Zhang W, Lauer S, Hernandez C, Cai J, Mitchell LA, Agmon N, Shen Y, Sall J, Fanfani V, Jalan A, Rivera J, Liang FX, Bader JS, Stracquadanio G, Steinmetz LM, Cai Y, Boeke JD. Debugging and consolidating multiple synthetic chromosomes reveals combinatorial genetic interactions. Cell 2023; 186:5220-5236.e16. [PMID: 37944511 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The Sc2.0 project is building a eukaryotic synthetic genome from scratch. A major milestone has been achieved with all individual Sc2.0 chromosomes assembled. Here, we describe the consolidation of multiple synthetic chromosomes using advanced endoreduplication intercrossing with tRNA expression cassettes to generate a strain with 6.5 synthetic chromosomes. The 3D chromosome organization and transcript isoform profiles were evaluated using Hi-C and long-read direct RNA sequencing. We developed CRISPR Directed Biallelic URA3-assisted Genome Scan, or "CRISPR D-BUGS," to map phenotypic variants caused by specific designer modifications, known as "bugs." We first fine-mapped a bug in synthetic chromosome II (synII) and then discovered a combinatorial interaction associated with synIII and synX, revealing an unexpected genetic interaction that links transcriptional regulation, inositol metabolism, and tRNASerCGA abundance. Finally, to expedite consolidation, we employed chromosome substitution to incorporate the largest chromosome (synIV), thereby consolidating >50% of the Sc2.0 genome in one strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhao
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Camila Coelho
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Amanda L Hughes
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Luciana Lazar-Stefanita
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Sandy Yang
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Aaron N Brooks
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Roy S K Walker
- School of Engineering, Institute for Bioengineering, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF
| | - Weimin Zhang
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Stephanie Lauer
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Cindy Hernandez
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Jitong Cai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Leslie A Mitchell
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Neta Agmon
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Yue Shen
- BGI, Shenzhen, Beishan, Industrial Zone, Shenzhen 518083, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write, BGI, Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Joseph Sall
- Microscopy Laboratory, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Viola Fanfani
- School of Biological Sciences, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF
| | - Anavi Jalan
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jordan Rivera
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Feng-Xia Liang
- Microscopy Laboratory, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Joel S Bader
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | | | - Lars M Steinmetz
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Genetics and Stanford Genome Technology Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Yizhi Cai
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, the University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Jef D Boeke
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11201, USA.
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Bourzac K. Engineered yeast breaks new record: a genome with over 50% synthetic DNA. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-03495-4. [PMID: 37940692 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-03495-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
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14
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Luo J, Vale-Silva LA, Raghavan AR, Mercy G, Heldrich J, Sun X, Li MK, Zhang W, Agmon N, Yang K, Cai J, Stracquadanio G, Thierry A, Zhao Y, Coelho C, McCulloch LH, Lauer S, Kaback DB, Bader JS, Mitchell LA, Mozziconacci J, Koszul R, Hochwagen A, Boeke JD. Synthetic chromosome fusion: Effects on mitotic and meiotic genome structure and function. CELL GENOMICS 2023; 3:100439. [PMID: 38020967 PMCID: PMC10667551 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2023.100439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
We designed and synthesized synI, which is ∼21.6% shorter than native chrI, the smallest chromosome in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. SynI was designed for attachment to another synthetic chromosome due to concerns surrounding potential instability and karyotype imbalance and is now attached to synIII, yielding the first synthetic yeast fusion chromosome. Additional fusion chromosomes were constructed to study nuclear function. ChrIII-I and chrIX-III-I fusion chromosomes have twisted structures, which depend on silencing protein Sir3. As a smaller chromosome, chrI also faces special challenges in assuring meiotic crossovers required for efficient homolog disjunction. Centromere deletions into fusion chromosomes revealed opposing effects of core centromeres and pericentromeres in modulating deposition of the crossover-promoting protein Red1. These effects extend over 100 kb and promote disproportionate Red1 enrichment, and thus crossover potential, on small chromosomes like chrI. These findings reveal the power of synthetic genomics to uncover new biology and deconvolute complex biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingchuan Luo
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | | | | | - Guillaume Mercy
- Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3525, Université de Paris, Unité Régulation Spatiale des Génomes, 75015 Paris, France
- Collège Doctoral, Sorbonne Université, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Jonna Heldrich
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Xiaoji Sun
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Mingyu Kenneth Li
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Weimin Zhang
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Neta Agmon
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Kun Yang
- High Throughput Biology Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute of Genetic Medicine, Whiting School of Engineering, JHU, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Jitong Cai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute of Genetic Medicine, Whiting School of Engineering, JHU, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Giovanni Stracquadanio
- High Throughput Biology Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute of Genetic Medicine, Whiting School of Engineering, JHU, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Agnès Thierry
- Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3525, Université de Paris, Unité Régulation Spatiale des Génomes, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Yu Zhao
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Camila Coelho
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Laura H. McCulloch
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Stephanie Lauer
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - David B. Kaback
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, International Center for Public Health, Newark, NJ 07101-1709, USA
| | - Joel S. Bader
- High Throughput Biology Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Leslie A. Mitchell
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Julien Mozziconacci
- Structure and instability of Genomes Lab, UMR 7196, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN), 75005 Paris, France
| | - Romain Koszul
- Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR3525, Université de Paris, Unité Régulation Spatiale des Génomes, 75015 Paris, France
| | | | - Jef D. Boeke
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
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