1
|
Mishra R, Kaur P, Soni R, Madan A, Agarwal P, Singh G. Decoding the photoprotection strategies and manipulating cyanobacterial photoprotective metabolites, mycosporine-like amino acids, for next-generation sunscreens. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 212:108744. [PMID: 38781638 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108744] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The most recent evaluation of the impacts of UV-B radiation and depletion of stratospheric ozone points out the need for effective photoprotection strategies for both biological and nonbiological components. To mitigate the disruptive consequences of artificial sunscreens, photoprotective compounds synthesized from gram-negative, oxygenic, and photoautotrophic prokaryote, cyanobacteria have been studied. In a quest to counteract the harmful UV radiation, cyanobacterial species biosynthesize photoprotective metabolites named as mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). The investigation of MAAs as potential substitutes for commercial sunscreen compounds is motivated by their inherent characteristics, such as antioxidative properties, water solubility, low molecular weight, and high molar extinction coefficients. These attributes contribute to the stability of MAAs and make them promising candidates for natural alternatives in sunscreen formulations. They are effective at reducing direct damage caused by UV radiation and do not lead to the production of reactive oxygen radicals. In order to better understand the role, ecology, and its application at a commercial scale, tools like genome mining, heterologous expression, and synthetic biology have been explored in this review to develop next-generation sunscreens. Utilizing tactical concepts of bio-nanoconjugate formation for the development of an efficient MAA-nanoparticle conjugate structure would not only give the sunscreen complex stability but would also serve as a promising tool for the production of analogues. This review would provide insight on efforts to produce MAAs by diversifying the biosynthetic pathways, modulating the precursors and stress conditions, and comprehending the gene cluster arrangement for MAA biosynthesis and its application in developing effective sunscreen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reema Mishra
- Department of Botany, Gargi College, University of Delhi, Siri Fort Road, New Delhi, 110049, India.
| | - Pritam Kaur
- Department of Botany, Gargi College, University of Delhi, Siri Fort Road, New Delhi, 110049, India.
| | - Renu Soni
- Department of Botany, Gargi College, University of Delhi, Siri Fort Road, New Delhi, 110049, India.
| | - Akanksha Madan
- Department of Botany, Gargi College, University of Delhi, Siri Fort Road, New Delhi, 110049, India.
| | - Preeti Agarwal
- Department of Botany, Gargi College, University of Delhi, Siri Fort Road, New Delhi, 110049, India.
| | - Garvita Singh
- Department of Botany, Gargi College, University of Delhi, Siri Fort Road, New Delhi, 110049, India.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kim G, Kim HJ, Kim K, Kim HJ, Yang J, Seo SW. Tunable translation-level CRISPR interference by dCas13 and engineered gRNA in bacteria. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5319. [PMID: 38909033 PMCID: PMC11193725 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49642-x] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Although CRISPR-dCas13, the RNA-guided RNA-binding protein, was recently exploited as a translation-level gene expression modulator, it has still been difficult to precisely control the level due to the lack of detailed characterization. Here, we develop a synthetic tunable translation-level CRISPR interference (Tl-CRISPRi) system based on the engineered guide RNAs that enable precise and predictable down-regulation of mRNA translation. First, we optimize the Tl-CRISPRi system for specific and multiplexed repression of genes at the translation level. We also show that the Tl-CRISPRi system is more suitable for independently regulating each gene in a polycistronic operon than the transcription-level CRISPRi (Tx-CRISPRi) system. We further engineer the handle structure of guide RNA for tunable and predictable repression of various genes in Escherichia coli and Vibrio natriegens. This tunable Tl-CRISPRi system is applied to increase the production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) by 14.2-fold via redirecting the metabolic flux, indicating the usefulness of this system for the flux optimization in the microbial cell factories based on the RNA-targeting machinery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giho Kim
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Joon Kim
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Keonwoo Kim
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeon Jin Kim
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jina Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Jeju National University, Jeju-si, South Korea
| | - Sang Woo Seo
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
- Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
- Bio-MAX Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
- Institute of Bio Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yu Y, Gawlitt S, de Andrade E Sousa LB, Merdivan E, Piraud M, Beisel CL, Barquist L. Improved prediction of bacterial CRISPRi guide efficiency from depletion screens through mixed-effect machine learning and data integration. Genome Biol 2024; 25:13. [PMID: 38200565 PMCID: PMC10782694 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03153-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) is the leading technique to silence gene expression in bacteria; however, design rules remain poorly defined. We develop a best-in-class prediction algorithm for guide silencing efficiency by systematically investigating factors influencing guide depletion in genome-wide essentiality screens, with the surprising discovery that gene-specific features substantially impact prediction. We develop a mixed-effect random forest regression model that provides better estimates of guide efficiency. We further apply methods from explainable AI to extract interpretable design rules from the model. This study provides a blueprint for predictive models for CRISPR technologies where only indirect measurements of guide activity are available.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanying Yu
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-Based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, 97080, Germany
| | - Sandra Gawlitt
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-Based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, 97080, Germany
| | | | - Erinc Merdivan
- Helmholtz AI, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, 85764, Germany
| | - Marie Piraud
- Helmholtz AI, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, 85764, Germany
| | - Chase L Beisel
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-Based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, 97080, Germany
- Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97080, Germany
| | - Lars Barquist
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-Based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, 97080, Germany.
- Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97080, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bales MK, Vergara MM, Eckert CA. Application of functional genomics for domestication of novel non-model microbes. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 51:kuae022. [PMID: 38925657 PMCID: PMC11247347 DOI: 10.1093/jimb/kuae022] [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: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
With the expansion of domesticated microbes producing biomaterials and chemicals to support a growing circular bioeconomy, the variety of waste and sustainable substrates that can support microbial growth and production will also continue to expand. The diversity of these microbes also requires a range of compatible genetic tools to engineer improved robustness and economic viability. As we still do not fully understand the function of many genes in even highly studied model microbes, engineering improved microbial performance requires introducing genome-scale genetic modifications followed by screening or selecting mutants that enhance growth under prohibitive conditions encountered during production. These approaches include adaptive laboratory evolution, random or directed mutagenesis, transposon-mediated gene disruption, or CRISPR interference (CRISPRi). Although any of these approaches may be applicable for identifying engineering targets, here we focus on using CRISPRi to reduce the time required to engineer more robust microbes for industrial applications. ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY The development of genome scale CRISPR-based libraries in new microbes enables discovery of genetic factors linked to desired traits for engineering more robust microbial systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margaret K Bales
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
- Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Michael Melesse Vergara
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Carrie A Eckert
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
- Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Orsi E, Nikel PI, Nielsen LK, Donati S. Synergistic investigation of natural and synthetic C1-trophic microorganisms to foster a circular carbon economy. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6673. [PMID: 37865689 PMCID: PMC10590403 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42166-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023] Open
Abstract
A true circular carbon economy must upgrade waste greenhouse gases. C1-based biomanufacturing is an attractive solution, in which one carbon (C1) molecules (e.g. CO2, formate, methanol, etc.) are converted by microbial cell factories into value-added goods (i.e. food, feed, and chemicals). To render C1-based biomanufacturing cost-competitive, we must adapt microbial metabolism to perform chemical conversions at high rates and yields. To this end, the biotechnology community has undertaken two (seemingly opposing) paths: optimizing natural C1-trophic microorganisms versus engineering synthetic C1-assimilation de novo in model microorganisms. Here, we pose how these approaches can instead create synergies for strengthening the competitiveness of C1-based biomanufacturing as a whole.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Orsi
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Pablo Ivan Nikel
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lars Keld Nielsen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, 4072, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Stefano Donati
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Trasanidou D, Potocnik A, Barendse P, Mohanraju P, Bouzetos E, Karpouzis E, Desmet A, van Kranenburg R, van der Oost J, Staals RHJ, Mougiakos I. Characterization of the AcrIIC1 anti‒CRISPR protein for Cas9‒based genome engineering in E. coli. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1042. [PMID: 37833505 PMCID: PMC10576004 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05418-5] [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: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-CRISPR proteins (Acrs) block the activity of CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins, either by inhibiting DNA interference or by preventing crRNA loading and complex formation. Although the main use of Acrs in genome engineering applications is to lower the cleavage activity of Cas proteins, they can also be instrumental for various other CRISPR-based applications. Here, we explore the genome editing potential of the thermoactive type II-C Cas9 variants from Geobacillus thermodenitrificans T12 (ThermoCas9) and Geobacillus stearothermophilus (GeoCas9) in Escherichia coli. We then demonstrate that the AcrIIC1 protein from Neisseria meningitidis robustly inhibits their DNA cleavage activity, but not their DNA binding capacity. Finally, we exploit these AcrIIC1:Cas9 complexes for gene silencing and base-editing, developing Acr base-editing tools. With these tools we pave the way for future engineering applications in mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria combining the activities of Acr and CRISPR-Cas proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Despoina Trasanidou
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ana Potocnik
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick Barendse
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Prarthana Mohanraju
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Evgenios Bouzetos
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Efthymios Karpouzis
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Amber Desmet
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Richard van Kranenburg
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Corbion, Gorinchem, The Netherlands
| | - John van der Oost
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Raymond H J Staals
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Ioannis Mougiakos
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- SNIPR Biome, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mayorga-Ramos A, Zúñiga-Miranda J, Carrera-Pacheco SE, Barba-Ostria C, Guamán LP. CRISPR-Cas-Based Antimicrobials: Design, Challenges, and Bacterial Mechanisms of Resistance. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1283-1302. [PMID: 37347230 PMCID: PMC10353011 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains is a source of public health concern across the globe. As the discovery of new conventional antibiotics has stalled significantly over the past decade, there is an urgency to develop novel approaches to address drug resistance in infectious diseases. The use of a CRISPR-Cas-based system for the precise elimination of targeted bacterial populations holds promise as an innovative approach for new antimicrobial agent design. The CRISPR-Cas targeting system is celebrated for its high versatility and specificity, offering an excellent opportunity to fight antibiotic resistance in pathogens by selectively inactivating genes involved in antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, pathogenicity, virulence, or bacterial viability. The CRISPR-Cas strategy can enact antimicrobial effects by two approaches: inactivation of chromosomal genes or curing of plasmids encoding antibiotic resistance. In this Review, we provide an overview of the main CRISPR-Cas systems utilized for the creation of these antimicrobials, as well as highlighting promising studies in the field. We also offer a detailed discussion about the most commonly used mechanisms for CRISPR-Cas delivery: bacteriophages, nanoparticles, and conjugative plasmids. Lastly, we address possible mechanisms of interference that should be considered during the intelligent design of these novel approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Mayorga-Ramos
- Centro
de Investigación Biomédica (CENBIO), Facultad de Ciencias
de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad
UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| | - Johana Zúñiga-Miranda
- Centro
de Investigación Biomédica (CENBIO), Facultad de Ciencias
de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad
UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| | - Saskya E. Carrera-Pacheco
- Centro
de Investigación Biomédica (CENBIO), Facultad de Ciencias
de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad
UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| | - Carlos Barba-Ostria
- Escuela
de Medicina, Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud Quito, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito 170902, Ecuador
| | - Linda P. Guamán
- Centro
de Investigación Biomédica (CENBIO), Facultad de Ciencias
de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad
UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fenster JA, Werner AZ, Tay JW, Gillen M, Schirokauer L, Hill NC, Watson A, Ramirez KJ, Johnson CW, Beckham GT, Cameron JC, Eckert CA. Dynamic and single cell characterization of a CRISPR-interference toolset in Pseudomonas putida KT2440 for β-ketoadipate production from p-coumarate. Metab Eng Commun 2022; 15:e00204. [PMID: 36093381 PMCID: PMC9460563 DOI: 10.1016/j.mec.2022.e00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas putida KT2440 is a well-studied bacterium for the conversion of lignin-derived aromatic compounds to bioproducts. The development of advanced genetic tools in P. putida has reduced the turnaround time for hypothesis testing and enabled the construction of strains capable of producing various products of interest. Here, we evaluate an inducible CRISPR-interference (CRISPRi) toolset on fluorescent, essential, and metabolic targets. Nuclease-deficient Cas9 (dCas9) expressed with the arabinose (8K)-inducible promoter was shown to be tightly regulated across various media conditions and when targeting essential genes. In addition to bulk growth data, single cell time lapse microscopy was conducted, which revealed intrinsic heterogeneity in knockdown rate within an isoclonal population. The dynamics of knockdown were studied across genomic targets in exponentially-growing cells, revealing a universal 1.75 ± 0.38 h quiescent phase after induction where 1.5 ± 0.35 doublings occur before a phenotypic response is observed. To demonstrate application of this CRISPRi toolset, β-ketoadipate, a monomer for performance-advantaged nylon, was produced at a 4.39 ± 0.5 g/L and yield of 0.76 ± 0.10 mol/mol from p-coumarate, a hydroxycinnamic acid that can be derived from grasses. These cultivation metrics were achieved by using the higher strength IPTG (1K)-inducible promoter to knockdown the pcaIJ operon in the βKA pathway during early exponential phase. This allowed the majority of the carbon to be shunted into the desired product while eliminating the need for a supplemental carbon and energy source to support growth and maintenance. Developed an inducible dCas9-based CRISPR interference toolset in Pseudomonas putida KT2440. Characterized single-cell dynamics of fluorescent and essential gene knockdown. Applied the toolset for glucose-free production of β-ketoadipate from p-coumarate. Produced β-ketoadipate at titer of 4.39 ± 0.5 g/L and 0.76 ± 0.10 mol/mol yield.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A. Fenster
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Allison Z. Werner
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Jian Wei Tay
- BioFrontiers Institute, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Matthew Gillen
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Leo Schirokauer
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Nicholas C. Hill
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Audrey Watson
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Kelsey J. Ramirez
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Christopher W. Johnson
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Gregg T. Beckham
- Renewable Resources and Enabling Sciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Jeffrey C. Cameron
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA
- Corresponding author. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
| | - Carrie A. Eckert
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
- Corresponding author. PO Box 2008, MS6060 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6060.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Turco F, Garavaglia M, Van Houdt R, Hill P, Rawson FJ, Kovacs K. Synthetic Biology Toolbox, Including a Single-Plasmid CRISPR-Cas9 System to Biologically Engineer the Electrogenic, Metal-Resistant Bacterium Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:3617-3628. [PMID: 36278822 PMCID: PMC9680026 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 exhibits extraordinary metabolic versatility, including chemolithoautotrophic growth; degradation of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene); high resistance to numerous metals; biomineralization of gold, platinum, silver, and uranium; and accumulation of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). These qualities make it a valuable host for biotechnological applications such as bioremediation, bioprocessing, and the generation of bioelectricity in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). However, the lack of genetic tools for strain development and studying its fundamental physiology represents a bottleneck to boosting its commercial applications. In this study, inducible and constitutive promoter libraries were built and characterized, providing the first comprehensive list of biological parts that can be used to regulate protein expression and optimize the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing tools for this host. A single-plasmid CRISPR-Cas9 system that can be delivered by both conjugation and electroporation was developed, and its efficiency was demonstrated by successfully targeting the pyrE locus. The CRISPR-Cas9 system was next used to target candidate genes encoding type IV pili, hypothesized by us to be involved in extracellular electron transfer (EET) in this organism. Single and double deletion strains (ΔpilA, ΔpilE, and ΔpilAE) were successfully generated. Additionally, the CRISPR-Cas9 tool was validated for constructing genomic insertions (ΔpilAE::gfp and ΔpilAE::λPrgfp). Finally, as type IV pili are believed to play an important role in extracellular electron transfer to solid surfaces, C. metallidurans CH34 ΔpilAE was further studied by means of cyclic voltammetry using disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes. Under these conditions, we demonstrated that C. metallidurans CH34 could generate extracellular currents; however, no difference in the intensity of the current peaks was found in the ΔpilAE double deletion strain when compared to the wild type. This finding suggests that the deleted type IV pili candidate genes are not involved in extracellular electron transfer under these conditions. Nevertheless, these experiments revealed the presence of different redox centers likely to be involved in both mediated electron transfer (MET) and direct electron transfer (DET), the first interpretation of extracellular electron transfer mechanisms in C. metallidurans CH34.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federico Turco
- School of Pharmacy,
Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Marco Garavaglia
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research
Centre, School of Life Sciences, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Rob Van Houdt
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Phil Hill
- School
of Biosciences, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
| | - Frankie J. Rawson
- Bioelectronics Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Katalin Kovacs
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulations,
School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom,
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Yilmaz S, Nyerges A, van der Oost J, Church GM, Claassens NJ. Towards next-generation cell factories by rational genome-scale engineering. Nat Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1038/s41929-022-00836-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
11
|
Morreale FE, Kleine S, Leodolter J, Junker S, Hoi DM, Ovchinnikov S, Okun A, Kley J, Kurzbauer R, Junk L, Guha S, Podlesainski D, Kazmaier U, Boehmelt G, Weinstabl H, Rumpel K, Schmiedel VM, Hartl M, Haselbach D, Meinhart A, Kaiser M, Clausen T. BacPROTACs mediate targeted protein degradation in bacteria. Cell 2022; 185:2338-2353.e18. [PMID: 35662409 PMCID: PMC9240326 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hijacking the cellular protein degradation system offers unique opportunities for drug discovery, as exemplified by proteolysis-targeting chimeras. Despite their great promise for medical chemistry, so far, it has not been possible to reprogram the bacterial degradation machinery to interfere with microbial infections. Here, we develop small-molecule degraders, so-called BacPROTACs, that bind to the substrate receptor of the ClpC:ClpP protease, priming neo-substrates for degradation. In addition to their targeting function, BacPROTACs activate ClpC, transforming the resting unfoldase into its functional state. The induced higher-order oligomer was visualized by cryo-EM analysis, providing a structural snapshot of activated ClpC unfolding a protein substrate. Finally, drug susceptibility and degradation assays performed in mycobacteria demonstrate in vivo activity of BacPROTACs, allowing selective targeting of endogenous proteins via fusion to an established degron. In addition to guiding antibiotic discovery, the BacPROTAC technology presents a versatile research tool enabling the inducible degradation of bacterial proteins. BacPROTACs reprogram bacterial ClpCP proteases to degrade neo-substrates Substrate binding converts latent ClpC into active, higher-order complexes with ClpP Incorporation of cyclomarin as head group yields BacPROTACs active in mycobacteria BID can eliminate proteins of interest in vivo
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca E Morreale
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Kleine
- University of Duisburg-Essen, Center of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Julia Leodolter
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabryna Junker
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - David M Hoi
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Stepan Ovchinnikov
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anastasia Okun
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Juliane Kley
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert Kurzbauer
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Junk
- Saarland University, Organic Chemistry I, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Somraj Guha
- Saarland University, Organic Chemistry I, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - David Podlesainski
- University of Duisburg-Essen, Center of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Uli Kazmaier
- Saarland University, Organic Chemistry I, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Guido Boehmelt
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, 1120 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Klaus Rumpel
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, 1120 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Markus Hartl
- Max Perutz Laboratories, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - David Haselbach
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anton Meinhart
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Kaiser
- University of Duisburg-Essen, Center of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, 45141 Essen, Germany.
| | - Tim Clausen
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ganguly J, Martin-Pascual M, Montiel González D, Bulut A, Vermeulen B, Tjalma I, Vidaki A, van Kranenburg R. Breaking the Restriction Barriers and Applying CRISPRi as a Gene Silencing Tool in Pseudoclostridium thermosuccinogenes. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10040698. [PMID: 35456750 PMCID: PMC9044749 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10040698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudoclostridium thermosuccinogenes is a thermophilic bacterium capable of producing succinate from lignocellulosic-derived sugars and has the potential to be exploited as a platform organism. However, exploitation of P. thermosuccinogenes has been limited partly due to the genetic inaccessibility and lack of genome engineering tools. In this study, we established the genetic accessibility for P. thermosuccinogenes DSM 5809. By overcoming restriction barriers, transformation efficiencies of 102 CFU/µg plasmid DNA were achieved. To this end, the plasmid DNA was methylated in vivo when transformed into an engineered E. coli HST04 strain expressing three native methylation systems of the thermophile. This protocol was used to introduce a ThermodCas9-based CRISPRi tool targeting the gene encoding malic enzyme in P. thermosuccinogenes, demonstrating the principle of gene silencing. This resulted in 75% downregulation of its expression and had an impact on the strain’s fermentation profile. Although the details of the functioning of the restriction modification systems require further study, in vivo methylation can already be applied to improve transformation efficiency of P. thermosuccinogenes. Making use of the ThermodCas9-based CRISPRi, this is the first example demonstrating that genetic engineering in P. thermosuccinogenes is feasible and establishing the way for metabolic engineering of this bacterium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Martin-Pascual
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands; (M.M.-P.); (B.V.); (I.T.)
| | - Diego Montiel González
- Department of Genetic Identification, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (D.M.G.); (A.V.)
| | - Alkan Bulut
- Fontys University of Applied Sciences, 5612 AR Eindhoven, The Netherlands;
| | - Bram Vermeulen
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands; (M.M.-P.); (B.V.); (I.T.)
| | - Ivo Tjalma
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands; (M.M.-P.); (B.V.); (I.T.)
| | - Athina Vidaki
- Department of Genetic Identification, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; (D.M.G.); (A.V.)
| | - Richard van Kranenburg
- Corbion, 4206 AC Gorinchem, The Netherlands;
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands; (M.M.-P.); (B.V.); (I.T.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Luo ZW, Ahn JH, Chae TU, Choi SY, Park SY, Choi Y, Kim J, Prabowo CPS, Lee JA, Yang D, Han T, Xu H, Lee SY. Metabolic Engineering of
Escherichia
coli. Metab Eng 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/9783527823468.ch11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
14
|
Appelbaum M, Schweder T. Metabolic Engineering of
Bacillus
– New Tools, Strains, and Concepts. Metab Eng 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/9783527823468.ch13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
|
15
|
Discovery and mining of enzymes from the human gut microbiome. Trends Biotechnol 2021; 40:240-254. [PMID: 34304905 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Advances in technological and bioinformatics approaches have led to the generation of a plethora of human gut metagenomic datasets. Metabolomics has also provided substantial data regarding the small metabolites produced and modified by the microbiota. Comparatively, the microbial enzymes mediating the transformation of metabolites have not been intensively investigated. Here, we discuss the recent efforts and technologies used for discovering and mining enzymes from the human gut microbiota. The wealth of knowledge on metabolites, reactions, genome sequences, and structures of proteins, may drive the development of strategies for enzyme mining. Ongoing efforts to annotate gut microbiota enzymes will explain catalytic mechanisms that may guide the clinical applications of the gut microbiome for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Collapse
|
16
|
Dhakal D, Chen M, Luesch H, Ding Y. Heterologous production of cyanobacterial compounds. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 48:6119914. [PMID: 33928376 PMCID: PMC8210676 DOI: 10.1093/jimb/kuab003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria produce a plethora of compounds with unique chemical structures and diverse biological activities. Importantly, the increasing availability of cyanobacterial genome sequences and the rapid development of bioinformatics tools have unraveled the tremendous potential of cyanobacteria in producing new natural products. However, the discovery of these compounds based on cyanobacterial genomes has progressed slowly as the majority of their corresponding biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) are silent. In addition, cyanobacterial strains are often slow-growing, difficult for genetic engineering, or cannot be cultivated yet, limiting the use of host genetic engineering approaches for discovery. On the other hand, genetically tractable hosts such as Escherichia coli, Actinobacteria, and yeast have been developed for the heterologous expression of cyanobacterial BGCs. More recently, there have been increased interests in developing model cyanobacterial strains as heterologous production platforms. Herein, we present recent advances in the heterologous production of cyanobacterial compounds in both cyanobacterial and noncyanobacterial hosts. Emerging strategies for BGC assembly, host engineering, and optimization of BGC expression are included for fostering the broader applications of synthetic biology tools in the discovery of new cyanobacterial natural products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dipesh Dhakal
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 31610, USA
| | - Manyun Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 31610, USA
| | - Hendrik Luesch
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 31610, USA
| | - Yousong Ding
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 31610, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
Developments in genome editing offer potential solutions to challenges in agriculture, industry, medicine, and the environment. However, many technologies remain unexploited due to limitations in the use of genetically altered organisms. In this study, we use B. subtilis spores to explore the possibility of bioengineering organisms while leaving their genome intact. Taking advantage of the differential expression between the mother cell and the fore-spore compartments during sporulation, we created plasmids programmed to modify the spore phenotype from the mother cell compartment, but to "self-digest" in the fore-spore. At the end of sporulation, the mother cell undergoes lysis and releases the phenotypically engineered, genetically unaltered spores. Using this approach, we demonstrated the potential to express foreign proteins in B. subtilis spores without genome alterations by producing spores expressing GFP in their protective coats, where approximately 90% of the spore population had no detectable plasmid or chromosome alterations. In a separate demonstration, we programmed KinA overexpression during vegetative growth to artificially induce sporulation, and also obtained spores with nearly 90% of them free of detectable plasmid. Artificial induction of sporulation could potentially simplify the bioprocess for industrial spore production, as it reduces the number of steps involved. Overall, these findings demonstrate the potential to create genetically intact bioengineered organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan F. Quijano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, 10027, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Physics, Columbia University, New York, 10027, United States
| | - Ozgur Sahin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, 10027, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Physics, Columbia University, New York, 10027, United States
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Ghavami S, Pandi A. CRISPR interference and its applications. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2021; 180:123-140. [PMID: 33934834 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Sequence-specific control of gene expression is a powerful tool for identifying and studying gene functions and cellular processes. CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) is an RNA-based method for highly specific silencing of the transcription in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. The typical CRISPRi system is a type II CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats) machinery of Streptococcus pyogenes. CRISPRi requires two main components: A catalytically inactivated Cas9, namely dCas9 and a guide RNA (sgRNA). These two components associate and form a DNA recognition complex. The dCas9/sgRNA complex then specifically binds to the target DNA complementary with the sgRNA and sterically prevents the association of the promoter or transcription factors with their trans-acting sequences or blocks the transcription elongation. This chapter discusses CRISPRi structure, mechanism and its applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Amir Pandi
- Department of Biochemistry and Synthetic Metabolism, Max-Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Riley LA, Guss AM. Approaches to genetic tool development for rapid domestication of non-model microorganisms. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2021; 14:30. [PMID: 33494801 PMCID: PMC7830746 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-020-01872-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Non-model microorganisms often possess complex phenotypes that could be important for the future of biofuel and chemical production. They have received significant interest the last several years, but advancement is still slow due to the lack of a robust genetic toolbox in most organisms. Typically, "domestication" of a new non-model microorganism has been done on an ad hoc basis, and historically, it can take years to develop transformation and basic genetic tools. Here, we review the barriers and solutions to rapid development of genetic transformation tools in new hosts, with a major focus on Restriction-Modification systems, which are a well-known and significant barrier to efficient transformation. We further explore the tools and approaches used for efficient gene deletion, DNA insertion, and heterologous gene expression. Finally, more advanced and high-throughput tools are now being developed in diverse non-model microbes, paving the way for rapid and multiplexed genome engineering for biotechnology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Riley
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
- Bredesen Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Adam M Guss
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA.
- Bredesen Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Fasim A, More VS, More SS. Large-scale production of enzymes for biotechnology uses. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 69:68-76. [PMID: 33388493 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Enzymes are biocatalysts that speed up the chemical reaction to obtain the final valuable product/s. Biotechnology has revolutionized the use of traditional enzymes to be applicable in industries such as food, beverage, personal and household care, agriculture, bioenergy, pharmaceutical, and various other segments. With respect to the exponential growth of enzymes in biotech industries, it becomes important to highlight the advancements and impact of enzyme technology over recent years. In this review article, we discuss the existing and emerging production approaches, applications, developments, and global need for enzymes. Special emphasis is given to the predominantly utilized hydrolytic microbial enzymes in industrial bioprocesses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aneesa Fasim
- School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Dayananda Sagar University, Bengaluru 560 111, Karnataka, India
| | - Veena S More
- Department of Biotechnology, Sapthagiri College of Engineering, Bengaluru 560 057 Karnataka, India
| | - Sunil S More
- School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Dayananda Sagar University, Bengaluru 560 111, Karnataka, India.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Combining protein and metabolic engineering to construct efficient microbial cell factories. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 66:27-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2020.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
22
|
Weusthuis RA, Folch PL, Pozo-Rodríguez A, Paul CE. Applying Non-canonical Redox Cofactors in Fermentation Processes. iScience 2020; 23:101471. [PMID: 32891057 PMCID: PMC7479625 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Fermentation processes are used to sustainably produce chemicals and as such contribute to the transition to a circular economy. The maximum theoretical yield of a conversion can only be approached if all electrons present in the substrate end up in the product. Control over the electrons is therefore crucial. However, electron transfer via redox cofactors results in a diffuse distribution of electrons over metabolism. To overcome this challenge, we propose to apply non-canonical redox cofactors (NRCs) in metabolic networks: cofactors that channel electrons exclusively from substrate to product, forming orthogonal circuits for electron transfer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruud A. Weusthuis
- Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University & Research, Post Office Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Pauline L. Folch
- Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University & Research, Post Office Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ana Pozo-Rodríguez
- Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University & Research, Post Office Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Caroline E. Paul
- Biocatalysis, Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Choi SY, Woo HM. CRISPRi-dCas12a: A dCas12a-Mediated CRISPR Interference for Repression of Multiple Genes and Metabolic Engineering in Cyanobacteria. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:2351-2361. [PMID: 32379967 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
In cyanobacteria, metabolic engineering using synthetic biology tools is limited to build a biosolar cell factory that converts CO2 to value-added chemicals, as repression of essential genes has not been achieved. In this study, we developed a dCas12a-mediated CRISPR interference system (CRISPRi-dCas12a) in cyanobacteria that effectively blocked the transcriptional initiation by means of a CRISPR-RNA (crRNA) and 19-nt direct repeat, resulting in 53-94% gene repression. The repression of multiple genes in a single crRNA array was also successfully achieved without a loss in repression strength. In addition, as a demonstration of the dCas12a-mediated CRISPRi for metabolic engineering, photosynthetic squalene production was improved by repressing the essential genes of either acnB encoding for aconitase or cpcB2 encoding for phycocyanin β-subunit in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. The ability to regulate gene repression will promote the construction of biosolar cell factories to produce value-added chemicals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sun Young Choi
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- BioFoundry Research Center, Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Han Min Woo
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- BioFoundry Research Center, Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Ding W, Zhang Y, Shi S. Development and Application of CRISPR/Cas in Microbial Biotechnology. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:711. [PMID: 32695770 PMCID: PMC7338305 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated (Cas) system has been rapidly developed as versatile genomic engineering tools with high efficiency, accuracy and flexibility, and has revolutionized traditional methods for applications in microbial biotechnology. Here, key points of building reliable CRISPR/Cas system for genome engineering are discussed, including the Cas protein, the guide RNA and the donor DNA. Following an overview of various CRISPR/Cas tools for genome engineering, including gene activation, gene interference, orthogonal CRISPR systems and precise single base editing, we highlighted the application of CRISPR/Cas toolbox for multiplexed engineering and high throughput screening. We then summarize recent applications of CRISPR/Cas systems in metabolic engineering toward production of chemicals and natural compounds, and end with perspectives of future advancements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Ding
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Ministry of Education, College of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Shuobo Shi
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Finger-Bou M, Orsi E, van der Oost J, Staals RHJ. CRISPR with a Happy Ending: Non-Templated DNA Repair for Prokaryotic Genome Engineering. Biotechnol J 2020; 15:e1900404. [PMID: 32558098 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201900404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The exploration of microbial metabolism is expected to support the development of a sustainable economy and tackle several problems related to the burdens of human consumption. Microorganisms have the potential to catalyze processes that are currently unavailable, unsustainable and/or inefficient. Their metabolism can be optimized and further expanded using tools like the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and their associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) systems. These tools have revolutionized the field of biotechnology, as they greatly streamline the genetic engineering of organisms from all domains of life. CRISPR-Cas and other nucleases mediate double-strand DNA breaks, which must be repaired to prevent cell death. In prokaryotes, these breaks can be repaired through either homologous recombination, when a DNA repair template is available, or through template-independent end joining, of which two major pathways are known. These end joining pathways depend on different sets of proteins and mediate DNA repair with different outcomes. Understanding these DNA repair pathways can be advantageous to steer the results of genome engineering experiments. In this review, we discuss different strategies for the genetic engineering of prokaryotes through either non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or alternative end joining (AEJ), both of which are independent of exogenous DNA repair templates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Max Finger-Bou
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, 6708 WE, The Netherlands
| | - Enrico Orsi
- Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - John van der Oost
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, 6708 WE, The Netherlands
| | - Raymond H J Staals
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, 6708 WE, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Hashemi A. CRISPR-Cas9/CRISPRi tools for cell factory construction in E. coli. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 36:96. [PMID: 32583135 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-020-02872-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The innovative CRISPR-Cas based genome editing technology provides some functionality and advantages such as the high efficiency and specificity as well as ease of handling. Both aspects of the CRISPR-Cas9 system including genetic engineering and gene regulation are advantageously applicable to the construction of microbial cell factories. As one of the most extensively used cell factories, E. coli has been engineered to produce various high value-added chemical compounds such as pharmaceuticals, biochemicals, and biofuels. Therefore, to improve the production of valuable metabolites, many investigations have been performed by focusing on CRISPR-Cas- based metabolic engineering of this host. In the current review, the biology underlying CRISPR-Cas9 system was briefly explained and then the applications of CRISPR-Cas9/CRISPRi tools were considered for cell factory construction in E. coli.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Atieh Hashemi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, No. 2660, Vali-e-Asr Ave, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Parveen S, Akhtar N, Ghauri MA, Akhtar K. Conventional genetic manipulation of desulfurizing bacteria and prospects of using CRISPR-Cas systems for enhanced desulfurization activity. Crit Rev Microbiol 2020; 46:300-320. [PMID: 32530374 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2020.1772195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Highly active and stable biocatalysts are the prerequisite for industrial scale application of the biodesulfurization process. Scientists are making efforts for increasing the desulfurizing activity of native strains by employing various genetic engineering approaches. Nevertheless, the achieved desulfurization rate is lower than the industrial requirements. Thus, there is a dire need to use efficient genetic tools for precise genome editing of desulfurizing bacteria for enhanced efficiency. In comparison to the previously used genetic engineering tools the newly developed CRISPR-Cas is a more efficient and simple genetic tool that has been successfully applied for targeted genome modification of eukaryotes as well as prokaryotes. In this paper, we have reviewed the approaches, previously used to enhance the biodesulfurization rates of the sulfur metabolizing microorganisms and have discussed the potential of CRISPR-Cas systems in engineering desulfurizing biocatalysts. We have also proposed a model to construct competent desulfurizing recombinants involving use of CRISPR-Cas technology. The model can be used to over-express the dsz genes under a constitutive promoter in a suitable heterologous host, to get a steady expression of desulfurization pathway. This may serve as an inducement to develop better performing desulfurizing recombinant strains using CRISPR-Cas systems, which can be helpful in increasing the rate of biodesulfurization in future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sana Parveen
- Industrial Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Constituent College of Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Nasrin Akhtar
- Industrial Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Constituent College of Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad A Ghauri
- Industrial Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Constituent College of Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Kalsoom Akhtar
- Industrial Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Constituent College of Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Faisalabad, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Adiego-Pérez B, Randazzo P, Daran JM, Verwaal R, Roubos JA, Daran-Lapujade P, van der Oost J. Multiplex genome editing of microorganisms using CRISPR-Cas. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2020; 366:5489186. [PMID: 31087001 PMCID: PMC6522427 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnz086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial production of chemical compounds often requires highly engineered microbial cell factories. During the last years, CRISPR-Cas nucleases have been repurposed as powerful tools for genome editing. Here, we briefly review the most frequently used CRISPR-Cas tools and describe some of their applications. We describe the progress made with respect to CRISPR-based multiplex genome editing of industrial bacteria and eukaryotic microorganisms. We also review the state of the art in terms of gene expression regulation using CRISPRi and CRISPRa. Finally, we summarize the pillars for efficient multiplexed genome editing and present our view on future developments and applications of CRISPR-Cas tools for multiplex genome editing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Belén Adiego-Pérez
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paola Randazzo
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Jean Marc Daran
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - René Verwaal
- DSM Biotechnology Center, Alexander Fleminglaan 1, 2613 AX Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes A Roubos
- DSM Biotechnology Center, Alexander Fleminglaan 1, 2613 AX Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Pascale Daran-Lapujade
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - John van der Oost
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Choudhury A, Fankhauser RG, Freed EF, Oh EJ, Morgenthaler AB, Bassalo MC, Copley SD, Kaar JL, Gill RT. Determinants for Efficient Editing with Cas9-Mediated Recombineering in Escherichia coli. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1083-1099. [PMID: 32298586 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.9b00440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
In E. coli, editing efficiency with Cas9-mediated recombineering varies across targets due to differences in the level of Cas9:gRNA-mediated DNA double-strand break (DSB)-induced cell death. We found that editing efficiency with the same gRNA and repair template can also change with target position, cas9 promoter strength, and growth conditions. Incomplete editing, off-target activity, nontargeted mutations, and failure to cleave target DNA even if Cas9 is bound also compromise editing efficiency. These effects on editing efficiency were gRNA-specific. We propose that differences in the efficiency of Cas9:gRNA-mediated DNA DSBs, as well as possible differences in binding of Cas9:gRNA complexes to their target sites, account for the observed variations in editing efficiency between gRNAs. We show that editing behavior using the same gRNA can be modified by mutating the gRNA spacer, which changes the DNA DSB activity. Finally, we discuss how variable editing with different gRNAs could limit high-throughput applications and provide strategies to overcome these limitations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alaksh Choudhury
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- IAME, UMR 1137, INSERM, Universités Paris Diderot et Paris Nord, Paris, 75018, France
| | - Reilly G Fankhauser
- Renewable & Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
| | - Emily F Freed
- Renewable & Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
| | - Eun Joong Oh
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Renewable & Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
| | - Andrew B Morgenthaler
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Marcelo C Bassalo
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Shelley D Copley
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Joel L Kaar
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Ryan T Gill
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Renewable & Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Danish Technical University, Copenhagen 2800, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Ng I, Keskin BB, Tan S. A Critical Review of Genome Editing and Synthetic Biology Applications in Metabolic Engineering of Microalgae and Cyanobacteria. Biotechnol J 2020; 15:e1900228. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201900228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- I‐Son Ng
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNational Cheng Kung University Tainan 701 Taiwan
| | - Batuhan Birol Keskin
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNational Cheng Kung University Tainan 701 Taiwan
| | - Shih‐I Tan
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNational Cheng Kung University Tainan 701 Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Ganguly J, Martin‐Pascual M, van Kranenburg R. CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) as transcriptional repression tool for Hungateiclostridium thermocellum DSM 1313. Microb Biotechnol 2020; 13:339-349. [PMID: 31802632 PMCID: PMC7017836 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Hungateiclostridium thermocellum DSM 1313 has biotechnological potential as a whole-cell biocatalyst for ethanol production using lignocellulosic renewable sources. The full exploitation of H. thermocellum has been hampered due to the lack of simple and high-throughput genome engineering tools. Recently in our research group, a thermophilic bacterial CRISPR-Cas9-based system has been developed as a transcriptional suppression tool for regulation of gene expression. We applied ThermoCas9-based CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) to repress the H. thermocellum central metabolic lactate dehydrogenase (ldh) and phosphotransacetylase (pta) genes. The effects of repression on target genes were studied based on transcriptional expression and product formation. Single-guide RNA (sgRNA) under the control of native intergenic 16S/23S rRNA promoter from H. thermocellum directing the ThermodCas9 to the promoter region of both pta and ldh silencing transformants reduced expression up to 67% and 62% respectively. This resulted in 24% and 17% decrease in lactate and acetate production, correspondingly. Hence, the CRISPRi approach for H. thermocellum to downregulate metabolic genes can be used for remodelling of metabolic pathways without the requisite for genome engineering. These data established for the first time the feasibility of employing CRISPRi-mediated gene repression of metabolic genes in H. thermocellum DSM 1313.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Martin‐Pascual
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen UniversityStippeneng 46708WE WageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Richard van Kranenburg
- CorbionArkelsedijk 464206AC GorinchemThe Netherlands
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyWageningen UniversityStippeneng 46708WE WageningenThe Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Zhang S, Guo F, Yan W, Dai Z, Dong W, Zhou J, Zhang W, Xin F, Jiang M. Recent Advances of CRISPR/Cas9-Based Genetic Engineering and Transcriptional Regulation in Industrial Biology. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 7:459. [PMID: 32047743 PMCID: PMC6997136 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Industrial biology plays a crucial role in the fields of medicine, health, food, energy, and so on. However, the lack of efficient genetic engineering tools has restricted the rapid development of industrial biology. Recently, the emergence of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system brought a breakthrough in genome editing technologies due to its high orthogonality, versatility, and efficiency. In this review, we summarized the barriers of CRISPR/Cas9 and corresponding solutions for efficient genetic engineering in industrial microorganisms. In addition, the advances of industrial biology employing the CRISPR/Cas9 system were compared in terms of its application in bacteria, yeast, and filamentous fungi. Furthermore, the cooperation between CRISPR/Cas9 and synthetic biology was discussed to help build complex and programmable gene circuits, which can be used in industrial biotechnology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shangjie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhongxue Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weiliang Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fengxue Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Zymomonas mobilis metabolism: Novel tools and targets for its rational engineering. Adv Microb Physiol 2020; 77:37-88. [PMID: 34756211 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2020.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Zymomonas mobilis is an α-proteobacterium that interests the biofuel industry due to its perfect ethanol fermentation yields. From its first description as a bacterial isolate in fermented alcoholic beverages to date, Z. mobilis has been rigorously studied in directions basic and applied. The Z. mobilis powerful Entner-Doudoroff glycolytic pathway has been the center of rigorous biochemical studies and, aside from ethanol, it has attracted interest in terms of high-added-value chemical manufacturing. Energetic balances and the effects of respiration have been explored in fundamental directions as also in applications pursuing strain enhancement and the utilization of alternative carbon sources. Metabolic modeling has addressed the optimization of the biochemical circuitry at various conditions of growth and/or substrate utilization; it has been also critical in predicting desirable end-product yields via flux redirection. Lastly, stress tolerance has received particular attention, since it directly determines biocatalytical performance at challenging bioreactor conditions. At a genetic level, advances in the genetic engineering of the organism have brought forth beneficial manipulations in the Z. mobilis gene pool, e.g., knock-outs, knock-ins and gene stacking, aiming to broaden the metabolic repertoire and increase robustness. Recent omic and expressional studies shed light on the genomic content of the most applied strains and reveal landscapes of activity manifested at ambient or reactor-based conditions. Studies such as those reviewed in this work, contribute to the understanding of the biology of Z. mobilis, enable insightful strain development, and pave the way for the transformation of Z. mobilis into a consummate organism for biomass conversion.
Collapse
|
34
|
Kirtania P, Hódi B, Mallick I, Vass IZ, Fehér T, Vass I, Kós PB. A single plasmid based CRISPR interference in Synechocystis 6803 - A proof of concept. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225375. [PMID: 31770415 PMCID: PMC6879144 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We developed a simple method to apply CRISPR interference by modifying an existing plasmid pCRISPathBrick containing the native S. pyogenes CRISPR assembly for Synechocystis PCC6803 and named it pCRPB1010. The technique presented here using deadCas9 is easier to implement for gene silencing in Synechocystis PCC6803 than other existing techniques as it circumvents the genome integration and segregation steps thereby significantly shortens the construction of the mutant strains. We executed CRISPR interference against well characterized photosynthetic genes to get a clear phenotype to validate the potential of pCRPB1010 and presented the work as a “proof of concept”. Targeting the non-template strand of psbO gene resulted in decreased amount of PsbO and 50% decrease in oxygen evolution rate. Targeting the template strand of psbA2 and psbA3 genes encoding the D1 subunit of photosystem II (PSII) using a single spacer against the common sequence span of the two genes, resulted in full inhibition of both genes, complete abolition of D1 protein synthesis, complete loss of oxygen evolution as well as photoautotrophic growth arrest. This is the first report of a single plasmid based, completely lesion free and episomal expression and execution of CRISPR interference in Synechocystis PCC6803.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prithwiraj Kirtania
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary.,Doctoral School of Biology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Barbara Hódi
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary.,Doctoral School of Biology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ivy Mallick
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - István Zoltan Vass
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Tamás Fehér
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Imre Vass
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Peter B Kós
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary.,Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Mougiakos I, Orsi E, Ghiffary MR, Post W, de Maria A, Adiego-Perez B, Kengen SWM, Weusthuis RA, van der Oost J. Efficient Cas9-based genome editing of Rhodobacter sphaeroides for metabolic engineering. Microb Cell Fact 2019; 18:204. [PMID: 31767004 PMCID: PMC6876111 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-019-1255-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rhodobacter sphaeroides is a metabolically versatile bacterium that serves as a model for analysis of photosynthesis, hydrogen production and terpene biosynthesis. The elimination of by-products formation, such as poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), has been an important metabolic engineering target for R. sphaeroides. However, the lack of efficient markerless genome editing tools for R. sphaeroides is a bottleneck for fundamental studies and biotechnological exploitation. The Cas9 RNA-guided DNA-endonuclease from the type II CRISPR-Cas system of Streptococcus pyogenes (SpCas9) has been extensively employed for the development of genome engineering tools for prokaryotes and eukaryotes, but not for R. sphaeroides. Results Here we describe the development of a highly efficient SpCas9-based genomic DNA targeting system for R. sphaeroides, which we combine with plasmid-borne homologous recombination (HR) templates developing a Cas9-based markerless and time-effective genome editing tool. We further employ the tool for knocking-out the uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (upp) gene from the genome of R. sphaeroides, as well as knocking it back in while altering its start codon. These proof-of-principle processes resulted in editing efficiencies of up to 100% for the knock-out yet less than 15% for the knock-in. We subsequently employed the developed genome editing tool for the consecutive deletion of the two predicted acetoacetyl-CoA reductase genes phaB and phbB in the genome of R. sphaeroides. The culturing of the constructed knock-out strains under PHB producing conditions showed that PHB biosynthesis is supported only by PhaB, while the growth of the R. sphaeroides ΔphbB strains under the same conditions is only slightly affected. Conclusions In this study, we combine the SpCas9 targeting activity with the native homologous recombination (HR) mechanism of R. sphaeroides for the development of a genome editing tool. We further employ the developed tool for the elucidation of the PHB production pathway of R. sphaeroides. We anticipate that the presented work will accelerate molecular research with R. sphaeroides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Mougiakos
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Enrico Orsi
- Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mohammad Rifqi Ghiffary
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Wilbert Post
- Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Alberto de Maria
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Systems and Synthetic Metabolism Group, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Belén Adiego-Perez
- Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Servé W M Kengen
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ruud A Weusthuis
- Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - John van der Oost
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Börner RA, Kandasamy V, Axelsen AM, Nielsen AT, Bosma EF. Genome editing of lactic acid bacteria: opportunities for food, feed, pharma and biotech. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2019; 366:5251984. [PMID: 30561594 PMCID: PMC6322438 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fny291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This mini-review provides a perspective of traditional, emerging and future applications of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and how genome editing tools can be used to overcome current challenges in all these applications. It also describes available tools and how these can be further developed, and takes current legislation into account. Genome editing tools are necessary for the construction of strains for new applications and products, but can also play a crucial role in traditional ones, such as food and probiotics, as a research tool for gaining mechanistic insights and discovering new properties. Traditionally, recombinant DNA techniques for LAB have strongly focused on being food-grade, but they lack speed and the number of genetically tractable strains is still rather limited. Further tool development will enable rapid construction of multiple mutants or mutant libraries on a genomic level in a wide variety of LAB strains. We also propose an iterative Design–Build–Test–Learn workflow cycle for LAB cell factory development based on systems biology, with ‘cell factory’ expanding beyond its traditional meaning of production strains and making use of genome editing tools to advance LAB understanding, applications and strain development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosa A Börner
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Vijayalakshmi Kandasamy
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Amalie M Axelsen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Alex T Nielsen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Elleke F Bosma
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Nora LC, Westmann CA, Guazzaroni ME, Siddaiah C, Gupta VK, Silva-Rocha R. Recent advances in plasmid-based tools for establishing novel microbial chassis. Biotechnol Adv 2019; 37:107433. [PMID: 31437573 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2019.107433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
A key challenge for domesticating alternative cultivable microorganisms with biotechnological potential lies in the development of innovative technologies. Within this framework, a myriad of genetic tools has flourished, allowing the design and manipulation of complex synthetic circuits and genomes to become the general rule in many laboratories rather than the exception. More recently, with the development of novel technologies such as DNA automated synthesis/sequencing and powerful computational tools, molecular biology has entered the synthetic biology era. In the beginning, most of these technologies were established in traditional microbial models (known as chassis in the synthetic biology framework) such as Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, enabling fast advances in the field and the validation of fundamental proofs of concept. However, it soon became clear that these organisms, although extremely useful for prototyping many genetic tools, were not ideal for a wide range of biotechnological tasks due to intrinsic limitations in their molecular/physiological properties. Over the last decade, researchers have been facing the great challenge of shifting from these model systems to non-conventional chassis with endogenous capacities for dealing with specific tasks. The key to address these issues includes the generation of narrow and broad host plasmid-based molecular tools and the development of novel methods for engineering genomes through homologous recombination systems, CRISPR/Cas9 and other alternative methods. Here, we address the most recent advances in plasmid-based tools for the construction of novel cell factories, including a guide for helping with "build-your-own" microbial host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luísa Czamanski Nora
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Cauã Antunes Westmann
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049-900, Brazil
| | - María-Eugenia Guazzaroni
- Faculty of Philosophy, Science and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049-900, Brazil
| | | | - Vijai Kumar Gupta
- ERA Chair of Green Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Science, Tallinn University of Technology, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Rafael Silva-Rocha
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049-900, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
The gal80 Deletion by CRISPR-Cas9 in Engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae Produces Artemisinic Acid Without Galactose Induction. Curr Microbiol 2019; 76:1313-1319. [PMID: 31392501 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-019-01752-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas system has emerged as the dominating tool for genome engineering, while also changes the speed and efficiency of metabolic engineering in conventional and non-conventional yeasts. Among these CRISPR-Cas systems, CRISPR-Cas9 technology has usually been applied for removing unfavorable target genes. Here, we used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to delete the gal80 gene in uracil-deficient strain and had successfully remolded the engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae that can produce artemisinic acid without galactose induction. An L9(34) orthogonal test was adopted to investigate the effects of different factors on artemisinic acid production. Fermentation medium III with sucrose as carbon sources, 1% inoculum level, and 84-h culture time were identified as the optimal fermentation conditions. Under this condition, the maximum artemisinic acid production by engineered S. cerevisiae 1211-2 was 740 mg/L in shake-flask cultivation level. This study provided an effective approach to reform metabolic pathway of artemisinic acid-producing strain. The engineered S. cerevisiae 1211-2 may be applied to artemisinic acid production by industrial fermentation in the future.
Collapse
|
39
|
Adaptation and application of a two-plasmid inducible CRISPR-Cas9 system in Clostridium beijerinckii. Methods 2019; 172:51-60. [PMID: 31362039 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2019.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent developments in CRISPR technologies have opened new possibilities for improving genome editing tools dedicated to the Clostridium genus. In this study we adapted a two-plasmid tool based on this technology to enable scarless modification of the genome of two reference strains of Clostridium beijerinckii producing an Acetone/Butanol/Ethanol (ABE) or an Isopropanol/Butanol/Ethanol (IBE) mix of solvents. In the NCIMB 8052 ABE-producing strain, inactivation of the SpoIIE sporulation factor encoding gene resulted in sporulation-deficient mutants, and this phenotype was reverted by complementing the mutant strain with a functional spoIIE gene. Furthermore, the fungal cellulase-encoding celA gene was inserted into the C. beijerinckii NCIMB 8052 chromosome, resulting in mutants with endoglucanase activity. A similar two-plasmid approach was next used to edit the genome of the natural IBE-producing strain C. beijerinckii DSM 6423, which has never been genetically engineered before. Firstly, the catB gene conferring thiamphenicol resistance was deleted to make this strain compatible with our dual-plasmid editing system. As a proof of concept, our dual-plasmid system was then used in C. beijerinckii DSM 6423 ΔcatB to remove the endogenous pNF2 plasmid, which led to a sharp increase of transformation efficiencies.
Collapse
|
40
|
Cañadas IC, Groothuis D, Zygouropoulou M, Rodrigues R, Minton NP. RiboCas: A Universal CRISPR-Based Editing Tool for Clostridium. ACS Synth Biol 2019; 8:1379-1390. [PMID: 31181894 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.9b00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Members of the genus Clostridium represent a diverse assemblage of species exhibiting both medical and industrial importance. Deriving both a greater understanding of their biology, while at the same time enhancing their exploitable properties, requires effective genome editing tools. Here, we demonstrate the first implementation in the genus of theophylline-dependent, synthetic riboswitches exhibiting a full set of dynamic ranges, also suitable for applications where tight control of gene expression is required. Their utility was highlighted by generating a novel riboswitch-based editing tool-RiboCas-that overcomes the main obstacles associated with CRISPR/Cas9 systems, including low transformation efficiencies and excessive Cas9 toxicity. The universal nature of the tool was established by obtaining chromosomal modifications in C. pasteurianum, C. difficile, and C. sporogenes, as well as by carrying out the first reported example of CRISPR-targeted gene disruption in C. botulinum. The high efficiency (100% mutant generation) and ease of application of RiboCas make it suitable for use in a diverse range of microorganisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inés C. Cañadas
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Daphne Groothuis
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Maria Zygouropoulou
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Raquel Rodrigues
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| | - Nigel P. Minton
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (SBRC), School of Life Sciences, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Gawin A, Peebo K, Hans S, Ertesvåg H, Irla M, Neubauer P, Brautaset T. Construction and characterization of broad-host-range reporter plasmid suitable for on-line analysis of bacterial host responses related to recombinant protein production. Microb Cell Fact 2019; 18:80. [PMID: 31064376 PMCID: PMC6505264 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-019-1128-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacteria are widely used as hosts for recombinant protein production due to their rapid growth, simple media requirement and ability to produce high yields of correctly folded proteins. Overproduction of recombinant proteins may impose metabolic burden to host cells, triggering various stress responses, and the ability of the cells to cope with such stresses is an important factor affecting both cell growth and product yield. RESULTS Here, we present a versatile plasmid-based reporter system for efficient analysis of metabolic responses associated with availability of cellular resources utilized for recombinant protein production and host capacity to synthesize correctly folded proteins. The reporter plasmid is based on the broad-host range RK2 minimal replicon and harbors the strong and inducible XylS/Pm regulator/promoter system, the ppGpp-regulated ribosomal protein promoter PrpsJ, and the σ32-dependent synthetic tandem promoter Pibpfxs, each controlling expression of one distinguishable fluorescent protein. We characterized the responsiveness of all three reporters in Escherichia coli by quantitative fluorescence measurements in cell cultures cultivated under different growth and stress conditions. We also validated the broad-host range application potential of the reporter plasmid by using Pseudomonas putida and Azotobacter vinelandii as hosts. CONCLUSIONS The plasmid-based reporter system can be used for analysis of the total inducible recombinant protein production, the translational capacity measured as transcription level of ribosomal protein genes and the heat shock-like response revealing aberrant protein folding in all studied Gram-negative bacterial strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Gawin
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Sem Sælandsvei 6-8, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Karl Peebo
- Center of Food and Fermentation Technologies, Akadeemia tee 15a, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Sebastian Hans
- Bioprocess Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Ackerstrasse 76, 13355 Berlin, Germany
| | - Helga Ertesvåg
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Sem Sælandsvei 6-8, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Marta Irla
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Sem Sælandsvei 6-8, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Peter Neubauer
- Bioprocess Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Ackerstrasse 76, 13355 Berlin, Germany
| | - Trygve Brautaset
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Sem Sælandsvei 6-8, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Xia PF, Ling H, Foo JL, Chang MW. Synthetic genetic circuits for programmable biological functionalities. Biotechnol Adv 2019; 37:107393. [PMID: 31051208 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2019.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Living organisms evolve complex genetic networks to interact with the environment. Due to the rapid development of synthetic biology, various modularized genetic parts and units have been identified from these networks. They have been employed to construct synthetic genetic circuits, including toggle switches, oscillators, feedback loops and Boolean logic gates. Building on these circuits, complex genetic machines with capabilities in programmable decision-making could be created. Consequently, these accomplishments have led to novel applications, such as dynamic and autonomous modulation of metabolic networks, directed evolution of biological units, remote and targeted diagnostics and therapies, as well as biological containment methods to prevent release of engineered microorganisms and genetic materials. Herein, we outline the principles in genetic circuit design that have initiated a new chapter in transforming concepts to realistic applications. The features of modularized building blocks and circuit architecture that facilitate realization of circuits for a variety of novel applications are discussed. Furthermore, recent advances and challenges in employing genetic circuits to impart microorganisms with distinct and programmable functionalities are highlighted. We envision that this review gives new insights into the design of synthetic genetic circuits and offers a guideline for the implementation of different circuits in various aspects of biotechnology and bioengineering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Fei Xia
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore; NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Hua Ling
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore; NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Jee Loon Foo
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore; NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore.
| | - Matthew Wook Chang
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore; NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Jung HR, Yang SY, Moon YM, Choi TR, Song HS, Bhatia SK, Gurav R, Kim EJ, Kim BG, Yang YH. Construction of Efficient Platform Escherichia coli Strains for Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production by Engineering Branched Pathway. Polymers (Basel) 2019; 11:polym11030509. [PMID: 30960493 PMCID: PMC6473851 DOI: 10.3390/polym11030509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a potential substitute for petroleum-based plastics and can be produced by many microorganisms, including recombinant Escherichia coli. For efficient conversion of substrates and maximum PHA production, we performed multiple engineering of branched pathways in E. coli. We deleted four genes (pflb, ldhA, adhE, and fnr), which contributed to the formation of byproducts, using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and overexpressed pntAB, which catalyzes the interconversion of NADH and NADPH. The constructed strain, HR002, showed accumulation of acetyl-CoA and decreased levels of byproducts, resulting in dramatic increases in cell growth and PHA content. Thus, we demonstrated the effects of multiple engineering for redirecting carbon flux into PHA production without any concerns regarding simultaneous deletion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Rim Jung
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, 120, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea.
| | - Su-Yeon Yang
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, 120, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea.
| | - Yu-Mi Moon
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, 120, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea.
| | - Tae-Rim Choi
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, 120, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea.
| | - Hun-Suk Song
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, 120, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea.
| | - Shashi Kant Bhatia
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, 120, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea.
- Institute for Ubiquitous Information Technology and Applications (CBRU), Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.
| | - Ranjit Gurav
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, 120, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea.
| | - Eun-Jung Kim
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
| | - Byung-Gee Kim
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, 1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea.
| | - Yung-Hun Yang
- Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, 120, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Korea.
- Institute for Ubiquitous Information Technology and Applications (CBRU), Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Sung L, Wu M, Lin M, Hsu M, Truong VA, Shen C, Tu Y, Hwang K, Tu A, Chang Y, Hu Y. Combining orthogonal CRISPR and CRISPRi systems for genome engineering and metabolic pathway modulation in
Escherichia coli. Biotechnol Bioeng 2019; 116:1066-1079. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.26915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Li‐Yu Sung
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNational Tsing Hua UniversityHsinchu Taiwan
| | - Meng‐Ying Wu
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNational Tsing Hua UniversityHsinchu Taiwan
| | - Mei‐Wei Lin
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNational Tsing Hua UniversityHsinchu Taiwan
- Biomedical Technology and Device Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research InstituteHsinchu Taiwan
| | - Mu‐Nung Hsu
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNational Tsing Hua UniversityHsinchu Taiwan
| | - Vu Anh Truong
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNational Tsing Hua UniversityHsinchu Taiwan
| | - Chih‐Che Shen
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNational Tsing Hua UniversityHsinchu Taiwan
| | - Yi Tu
- Department of Life ScienceNational Taiwan UniversityTaipei Taiwan
| | | | - An‐Pang Tu
- Chang Chun Petrochemical GroupTaipei Taiwan
| | - Yu‐Han Chang
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung UniversityTaoyuan Taiwan
- Department of Orthopaedic SurgeryChang Gung Memorial HospitalLinkou Taiwan
| | - Yu‐Chen Hu
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNational Tsing Hua UniversityHsinchu Taiwan
- Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters, National Tsing Hua UniversityHsinchu Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Escherichia coli as a host for metabolic engineering. Metab Eng 2018; 50:16-46. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2018.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
46
|
Liu H, Wang L, Luo Y. Blossom of CRISPR technologies and applications in disease treatment. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2018; 3:217-228. [PMID: 30370342 PMCID: PMC6199817 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Since 2013, the CRISPR-based bacterial antiviral defense systems have revolutionized the genome editing field. In addition to genome editing, CRISPR has been developed as a variety of tools for gene expression regulations, live cell chromatin imaging, base editing, epigenome editing, and nucleic acid detection. Moreover, in the context of further boosting the usability and feasibility of CRISPR systems, novel CRISPR systems and engineered CRISPR protein mutants have been explored and studied actively. With the flourish of CRISPR technologies, they have been applied in disease treatment recently, as in gene therapy, cell therapy, immunotherapy, and antimicrobial therapy. Here we present the developments of CRISPR technologies and describe the applications of these CRISPR-based technologies in disease treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huayi Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Lian Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Yunzi Luo
- Department of Gastroenterology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Becker J, Wittmann C. From systems biology to metabolically engineered cells — an omics perspective on the development of industrial microbes. Curr Opin Microbiol 2018; 45:180-188. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|
48
|
Wu Y, Chen T, Liu Y, Lv X, Li J, Du G, Ledesma-Amaro R, Liu L. CRISPRi allows optimal temporal control of N-acetylglucosamine bioproduction by a dynamic coordination of glucose and xylose metabolism in Bacillus subtilis. Metab Eng 2018; 49:232-241. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2018.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|
49
|
Javed MR, Sadaf M, Ahmed T, Jamil A, Nawaz M, Abbas H, Ijaz A. CRISPR-Cas System: History and Prospects as a Genome Editing Tool in Microorganisms. Curr Microbiol 2018; 75:1675-1683. [PMID: 30078067 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-018-1547-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR or more precisely CRISPR-Cas) system has proven to be a highly efficient and simple tool for achieving site-specific genome modifications in comparison to Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs) and Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs). The discovery of bacterial defense system that uses RNA-guided DNA cleaving enzymes for producing double-strand breaks along CRISPR has provided an exciting alternative to ZFNs and TALENs for gene editing & regulation, as the CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins remain the same for different gene targets and only the short sequence of the guide RNA needs to be changed to redirect the site-specific cleavage. Therefore, in recent years the CRISPR-Cas system has emerged as a revolutionary engineering tool for carrying out precise and controlled genetic modifications in many microbes such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Clostridium beijerinckii, Streptococcus pneumonia, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Though, concerns about CRISPR-Cas effectiveness in interlinked gene modifications and off-target effects need to be addressed. Nevertheless, it holds a great potential to speed up the pace of gene function discovery by interacting with previously intractable organisms and by raising the extent of genetic screens. Therefore, the potential applications of this system in microbial adaptive immune system, genome editing, gene regulations, functional genomics & biosynthesis along ethical issues, and possible harmful effects have been reviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad R Javed
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan.
| | - Maria Sadaf
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Temoor Ahmed
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Amna Jamil
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Marium Nawaz
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Hira Abbas
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Anam Ijaz
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Shepelin D, Hansen ASL, Lennen R, Luo H, Herrgård MJ. Selecting the Best: Evolutionary Engineering of Chemical Production in Microbes. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:E249. [PMID: 29751691 PMCID: PMC5977189 DOI: 10.3390/genes9050249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial cell factories have proven to be an economical means of production for many bulk, specialty, and fine chemical products. However, we still lack both a holistic understanding of organism physiology and the ability to predictively tune enzyme activities in vivo, thus slowing down rational engineering of industrially relevant strains. An alternative concept to rational engineering is to use evolution as the driving force to select for desired changes, an approach often described as evolutionary engineering. In evolutionary engineering, in vivo selections for a desired phenotype are combined with either generation of spontaneous mutations or some form of targeted or random mutagenesis. Evolutionary engineering has been used to successfully engineer easily selectable phenotypes, such as utilization of a suboptimal nutrient source or tolerance to inhibitory substrates or products. In this review, we focus primarily on a more challenging problem-the use of evolutionary engineering for improving the production of chemicals in microbes directly. We describe recent developments in evolutionary engineering strategies, in general, and discuss, in detail, case studies where production of a chemical has been successfully achieved through evolutionary engineering by coupling production to cellular growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denis Shepelin
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Anne Sofie Lærke Hansen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Rebecca Lennen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Hao Luo
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Markus J Herrgård
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|