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Dray KE, Dreyer KS, Lucks JB, Leonard JN. Teaching systematic, reproducible model development using synthetic biology. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING EDUCATION 2023; 57:124-130. [PMID: 37869416 PMCID: PMC10588546 DOI: 10.18260/2-1-370.660-132665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
We present an educational unit to teach computational modeling, a vital part of chemical engineering curricula, through the lens of synthetic biology. Lectures, code, and homework questions provide conceptual and practical introductions to each computational method involved in the model development process, along with perspectives on how methods can be iterated upon to arrive at a final model. Ultimately, this content can be applied broadly to address questions in synthetic biology and classical chemical engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate E. Dray
- Northwestern University, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Center for Synthetic Biology, Evanston, IL 60208
| | - Kathleen S. Dreyer
- Northwestern University, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Center for Synthetic Biology, Evanston, IL 60208
| | - Julius B. Lucks
- Northwestern University, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Center for Synthetic Biology, Evanston, IL 60208
| | - Joshua N. Leonard
- Northwestern University, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Center for Synthetic Biology Evanston, IL 60208
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Gabriel R, Prinz J, Jecmenica M, Romero-Vazquez C, Chou P, Harth S, Floerl L, Curran L, Oostlander A, Matz L, Fritsche S, Gorman J, Schuerg T, Fleißner A, Singer SW. Development of genetic tools for the thermophilic filamentous fungus Thermoascus aurantiacus. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2020; 13:167. [PMID: 33062053 PMCID: PMC7547499 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-020-01804-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fungal enzymes are vital for industrial biotechnology, including the conversion of plant biomass to biofuels and bio-based chemicals. In recent years, there is increasing interest in using enzymes from thermophilic fungi, which often have higher reaction rates and thermal tolerance compared to currently used fungal enzymes. The thermophilic filamentous fungus Thermoascus aurantiacus produces large amounts of highly thermostable plant cell wall-degrading enzymes. However, no genetic tools have yet been developed for this fungus, which prevents strain engineering efforts. The goal of this study was to develop strain engineering tools such as a transformation system, a CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system and a sexual crossing protocol to improve the enzyme production. RESULTS Here, we report Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) of T. aurantiacus using the hph marker gene, conferring resistance to hygromycin B. The newly developed transformation protocol was optimized and used to integrate an expression cassette of the transcriptional xylanase regulator xlnR, which led to up to 500% increased xylanase activity. Furthermore, a CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system was established in this fungus, and two different gRNAs were tested to delete the pyrG orthologue with 10% and 35% deletion efficiency, respectively. Lastly, a sexual crossing protocol was established using a hygromycin B- and a 5-fluoroorotic acid-resistant parent strain. Crossing and isolation of progeny on selective media were completed in a week. CONCLUSION The genetic tools developed for T. aurantiacus can now be used individually or in combination to further improve thermostable enzyme production by this fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Gabriel
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, California 94608 United States
- Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Julia Prinz
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, California 94608 United States
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Marina Jecmenica
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, California 94608 United States
- Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (ACIB), Muthgasse 11, 1190 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Carlos Romero-Vazquez
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, California 94608 United States
- College of Natural Sciences, University of Puerto-Rico, Rio Pedras, 17 Ave. Universidad STE 1701, San Juan, 00925 Puerto Rico USA
| | - Pallas Chou
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, California 94608 United States
- American High School, 36300 Fremont Blvd, Fremont, CA 94536 USA
| | - Simon Harth
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, California 94608 United States
- Frankfurt Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Lena Floerl
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, California 94608 United States
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Laure Curran
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, California 94608 United States
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Vaud 1015 Switzerland
| | - Anne Oostlander
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, California 94608 United States
- Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Linda Matz
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, California 94608 United States
- Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Susanne Fritsche
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, California 94608 United States
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jennifer Gorman
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, California 94608 United States
| | - Timo Schuerg
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, California 94608 United States
| | - André Fleißner
- Institut für Genetik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Steven W. Singer
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, California 94608 United States
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Kesireddy V, Kasper FK. Approaches for building bioactive elements into synthetic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. J Mater Chem B 2016; 4:6773-6786. [PMID: 28133536 PMCID: PMC5267491 DOI: 10.1039/c6tb00783j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Bone tissue engineering (BTE) is emerging as a possible solution for regeneration of bone in a number of applications. For effective utilization, BTE scaffolds often need modifications to impart biological cues that drive diverse cellular functions such as adhesion, migration, survival, proliferation, differentiation, and biomineralization. This review provides an outline of various approaches for building bioactive elements into synthetic scaffolds for BTE and classifies them broadly under two distinct schemes; namely, the top-down approach and the bottom-up approach. Synthetic and natural routes for top-down approaches to production of bioactive constructs for BTE, such as generation of scaffold-extracellular matrix (ECM) hybrid constructs or decellularized and demineralized scaffolds, are provided. Similarly, traditional scaffold-based bottom-up approaches, including growth factor immobilization or peptide-tethered scaffolds, are provided. Finally, a brief overview of emerging bottom-up approaches for generating biologically active constructs for BTE is given. A discussion of the key areas for further investigation, challenges, and opportunities is also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venu Kesireddy
- Department of Orthodontics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Dentistry
| | - F. Kurtis Kasper
- Department of Orthodontics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Dentistry
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Horn AHC, Sticht H. Synthetic Protein Scaffolds Based on Peptide Motifs and Cognate Adaptor Domains for Improving Metabolic Productivity. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2015; 3:191. [PMID: 26636078 PMCID: PMC4655305 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2015.00191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The efficiency of many cellular processes relies on the defined interaction among different proteins within the same metabolic or signaling pathway. Consequently, a spatial colocalization of functionally interacting proteins has frequently emerged during evolution. This concept has been adapted within the synthetic biology community for the purpose of creating artificial scaffolds. A recent advancement of this concept is the use of peptide motifs and their cognate adaptor domains. SH2, SH3, GBD, and PDZ domains have been used most often in research studies to date. The approach has been successfully applied to the synthesis of a variety of target molecules including catechin, D-glucaric acid, H2, hydrochinone, resveratrol, butyrate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and mevalonate. Increased production levels of up to 77-fold have been observed compared to non-scaffolded systems. A recent extension of this concept is the creation of a covalent linkage between peptide motifs and adaptor domains, which leads to a more stable association of the scaffolded systems and thus bears the potential to further enhance metabolic productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anselm H C Horn
- Bioinformatik, Institut für Biochemie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg , Erlangen , Germany
| | - Heinrich Sticht
- Bioinformatik, Institut für Biochemie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg , Erlangen , Germany
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Bao Z, Cobb RE, Zhao H. Accelerated genome engineering through multiplexing. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2015; 8:5-21. [PMID: 26394307 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2015] [Revised: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Throughout the biological sciences, the past 15 years have seen a push toward the analysis and engineering of biological systems at the organism level. Given the complexity of even the simplest organisms, though, to elicit a phenotype of interest often requires genotypic manipulation of several loci. By traditional means, sequential editing of genomic targets requires a significant investment of time and labor, as the desired editing event typically occurs at a very low frequency against an overwhelming unedited background. In recent years, the development of a suite of new techniques has greatly increased editing efficiency, opening up the possibility for multiple editing events to occur in parallel. Termed as multiplexed genome engineering, this approach to genome editing has greatly expanded the scope of possible genome manipulations in diverse hosts, ranging from bacteria to human cells. The enabling technologies for multiplexed genome engineering include oligonucleotide-based and nuclease-based methodologies, and their application has led to the great breadth of successful examples described in this review. While many technical challenges remain, there also exists a multiplicity of opportunities in this rapidly expanding field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehua Bao
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Ryan E Cobb
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Huimin Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Department of Chemistry, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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Reen FJ, Romano S, Dobson ADW, O'Gara F. The Sound of Silence: Activating Silent Biosynthetic Gene Clusters in Marine Microorganisms. Mar Drugs 2015; 13:4754-83. [PMID: 26264003 PMCID: PMC4557003 DOI: 10.3390/md13084754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Revised: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Unlocking the rich harvest of marine microbial ecosystems has the potential to both safeguard the existence of our species for the future, while also presenting significant lifestyle benefits for commercial gain. However, while significant advances have been made in the field of marine biodiscovery, leading to the introduction of new classes of therapeutics for clinical medicine, cosmetics and industrial products, much of what this natural ecosystem has to offer is locked in, and essentially hidden from our screening methods. Releasing this silent potential represents a significant technological challenge, the key to which is a comprehensive understanding of what controls these systems. Heterologous expression systems have been successful in awakening a number of these cryptic marine biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). However, this approach is limited by the typically large size of the encoding sequences. More recently, focus has shifted to the regulatory proteins associated with each BGC, many of which are signal responsive raising the possibility of exogenous activation. Abundant among these are the LysR-type family of transcriptional regulators, which are known to control production of microbial aromatic systems. Although the environmental signals that activate these regulatory systems remain unknown, it offers the exciting possibility of evoking mimic molecules and synthetic expression systems to drive production of potentially novel natural products in microorganisms. Success in this field has the potential to provide a quantum leap forward in medical and industrial bio-product development. To achieve these new endpoints, it is clear that the integrated efforts of bioinformaticians and natural product chemists will be required as we strive to uncover new and potentially unique structures from silent or cryptic marine gene clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Jerry Reen
- BIOMERIT Research Centre, School of Microbiology, University College Cork-National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Stefano Romano
- BIOMERIT Research Centre, School of Microbiology, University College Cork-National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Alan D W Dobson
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork-National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Fergal O'Gara
- BIOMERIT Research Centre, School of Microbiology, University College Cork-National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Perth WA 6845, Australia.
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Rodriguez A, Martínez JA, Flores N, Escalante A, Gosset G, Bolivar F. Engineering Escherichia coli to overproduce aromatic amino acids and derived compounds. Microb Cell Fact 2014; 13:126. [PMID: 25200799 PMCID: PMC4174253 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-014-0126-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of aromatic amino acids using fermentation processes with recombinant microorganisms can be an advantageous approach to reach their global demands. In addition, a large array of compounds with alimentary and pharmaceutical applications can potentially be synthesized from intermediates of this metabolic pathway. However, contrary to other amino acids and primary metabolites, the artificial channelling of building blocks from central metabolism towards the aromatic amino acid pathway is complicated to achieve in an efficient manner. The length and complex regulation of this pathway have progressively called for the employment of more integral approaches, promoting the merge of complementary tools and techniques in order to surpass metabolic and regulatory bottlenecks. As a result, relevant insights on the subject have been obtained during the last years, especially with genetically modified strains of Escherichia coli. By combining metabolic engineering strategies with developments in synthetic biology, systems biology and bioprocess engineering, notable advances were achieved regarding the generation, characterization and optimization of E. coli strains for the overproduction of aromatic amino acids, some of their precursors and related compounds. In this paper we review and compare recent successful reports dealing with the modification of metabolic traits to attain these objectives.
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