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Silverstein MR, Segrè D, Bhatnagar JM. Environmental microbiome engineering for the mitigation of climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:2050-2066. [PMID: 36661406 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Environmental microbiome engineering is emerging as a potential avenue for climate change mitigation. In this process, microbial inocula are introduced to natural microbial communities to tune activities that regulate the long-term stabilization of carbon in ecosystems. In this review, we outline the process of environmental engineering and synthesize key considerations about ecosystem functions to target, means of sourcing microorganisms, strategies for designing microbial inocula, methods to deliver inocula, and the factors that enable inocula to establish within a resident community and modify an ecosystem function target. Recent work, enabled by high-throughput technologies and modeling approaches, indicate that microbial inocula designed from the top-down, particularly through directed evolution, may generally have a higher chance of establishing within existing microbial communities than other historical approaches to microbiome engineering. We address outstanding questions about the determinants of inocula establishment and provide suggestions for further research about the possibilities and challenges of environmental microbiome engineering as a tool to combat climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Silverstein
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel Segrè
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jennifer M Bhatnagar
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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2
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Madhavan A, Arun KB, Binod P, Sirohi R, Tarafdar A, Reshmy R, Kumar Awasthi M, Sindhu R. Design of novel enzyme biocatalysts for industrial bioprocess: Harnessing the power of protein engineering, high throughput screening and synthetic biology. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 325:124617. [PMID: 33450638 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Biocatalysts have wider applications in various industries. Biocatalysts are generating bigger attention among researchers due to their unique catalytic properties like activity, specificity and stability. However the industrial use of many enzymes is hindered by low catalytic efficiency and stability during industrial processes. Properties of enzymes can be altered by protein engineering. Protein engineers are increasingly study the structure-function characteristics, engineering attributes, design of computational tools for enzyme engineering, and functional screening processes to improve the design and applications of enzymes. The potent and innovative techniques of enzyme engineering deliver outstanding opportunities for tailoring industrially important enzymes for the versatile production of biochemicals. An overview of the current trends in enzyme engineering is explored with important representative examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aravind Madhavan
- Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Trivandrum 695 014, India
| | - K B Arun
- Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Trivandrum 695 014, India
| | - Parameswaran Binod
- Microbial Processes and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Trivandrum 695 019, India
| | - Ranjna Sirohi
- The Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Lucknow 226 010, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ayon Tarafdar
- Division of Livestock Production and Management, ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243 122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - R Reshmy
- Post Graduate and Research Department of Chemistry, Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara 690 110, Kerala, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar Awasthi
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, North West A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712 100, China
| | - Raveendran Sindhu
- Microbial Processes and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Trivandrum 695 019, India.
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3
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Matteau D, Lachance J, Grenier F, Gauthier S, Daubenspeck JM, Dybvig K, Garneau D, Knight TF, Jacques P, Rodrigue S. Integrative characterization of the near-minimal bacterium Mesoplasma florum. Mol Syst Biol 2020; 16:e9844. [PMID: 33331123 PMCID: PMC7745072 DOI: 10.15252/msb.20209844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The near-minimal bacterium Mesoplasma florum is an interesting model for synthetic genomics and systems biology due to its small genome (~ 800 kb), fast growth rate, and lack of pathogenic potential. However, fundamental aspects of its biology remain largely unexplored. Here, we report a broad yet remarkably detailed characterization of M. florum by combining a wide variety of experimental approaches. We investigated several physical and physiological parameters of this bacterium, including cell size, growth kinetics, and biomass composition of the cell. We also performed the first genome-wide analysis of its transcriptome and proteome, notably revealing a conserved promoter motif, the organization of transcription units, and the transcription and protein expression levels of all protein-coding sequences. We converted gene transcription and expression levels into absolute molecular abundances using biomass quantification results, generating an unprecedented view of the M. florum cellular composition and functions. These characterization efforts provide a strong experimental foundation for the development of a genome-scale model for M. florum and will guide future genome engineering endeavors in this simple organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominick Matteau
- Département de biologieUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQCCanada
| | | | - Frédéric Grenier
- Département de biologieUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQCCanada
| | - Samuel Gauthier
- Département de biologieUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQCCanada
| | | | - Kevin Dybvig
- Department of GeneticsUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamALUSA
| | - Daniel Garneau
- Département de biologieUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQCCanada
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4
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Costessi A, van den Bogert B, May A, Ver Loren van Themaat E, Roubos JA, Kolkman MAB, Butler D, Pirovano W. Novel sequencing technologies to support industrial biotechnology. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2019; 365:4982775. [PMID: 30010862 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fny103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Industrial biotechnology develops and applies microorganisms for the production of bioproducts and enzymes with applications ranging from food and feed ingredients and processing to bio-based chemicals, biofuels and pharmaceutical products. Next generation DNA sequencing technologies play an increasingly important role in improving and accelerating microbial strain development for existing and novel bio-products via screening, gene and pathway discovery, metabolic engineering and additional optimization and understanding of large-scale manufacturing. In this mini-review, we describe novel DNA sequencing and analysis technologies with a focus on applications to industrial strain development, enzyme discovery and microbial community analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adalberto Costessi
- Next Generation Sequencing Department, BaseClear B.V., Sylviusweg 74, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ali May
- Bioinformatics Department, BaseClear B.V., Sylviusweg 74, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Johannes A Roubos
- DSM Biotechnology Center, DSM, Alexander Fleminglaan 1, 2600 MA, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Marc A B Kolkman
- Division of Industrial Biosciences, DuPont, Archimedesweg 30, 2300 AE, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Derek Butler
- Bianomics Business Unit, BaseClear B.V., Sylviusweg 74, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Walter Pirovano
- Bioinformatics Department, BaseClear B.V., Sylviusweg 74, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
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5
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Design Methodologies and the Limits of the Engineering-Dominated Conception of Synthetic Biology. Acta Biotheor 2019; 67:1-18. [PMID: 30121875 DOI: 10.1007/s10441-018-9338-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic biology is described as a new field of biotechnology that models itself on engineering sciences. However, this view of synthetic biology as an engineering field has received criticism, and both biologists and philosophers have argued for a more nuanced and heterogeneous understanding of the field. This paper elaborates the heterogeneity of synthetic biology by clarifying the role of design and the variability of design methodologies in synthetic biology. I focus on two prominent design methodologies: rational design and directed evolution. Rational design resembles the design methodology of traditional engineering sciences. However, it is often replaced and complemented by the more biologically-inspired method of directed evolution, which models itself on natural evolution. These two approaches take philosophically different stances to the design of biological systems. Rational design aims to make biological systems more machine-like, whereas directed evolution utilizes variation and emergent features of living systems. I provide an analysis of the methodological basis of these design approaches, and highlight important methodological differences between them. By analyzing the respective benefits and limitations of these approaches, I argue against the engineering-dominated conception of synthetic biology and its "methodological monism", where the rational design approach is taken as the default design methodology. Alternative design methodologies, like directed evolution, should be considered as complementary, not competitive, to rational design.
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6
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In situ biomolecule production by bacteria; a synthetic biology approach to medicine. J Control Release 2018; 275:217-228. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Wu J, Deng A, Sun Q, Bai H, Sun Z, Shang X, Zhang Y, Liu Q, Liang Y, Liu S, Che Y, Wen T. Bacterial Genome Editing via a Designed Toxin-Antitoxin Cassette. ACS Synth Biol 2018; 7:822-831. [PMID: 28094982 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.6b00287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Manipulating the bacterial genomes in an efficient manner is essential to biological and biotechnological research. Here, we reprogrammed the bacterial TA systems as the toxin counter-selectable cassette regulated by an antitoxin switch (TCCRAS) for genetic modifications in the extensively studied and utilized Gram-positive bacteria, B. subtilis and Corynebacterium glutamicum. In the five characterized type II TA systems, the RelBE complex can specifically and efficiently regulate cell growth and death by the conditionally controlled antitoxin RelB switch, thereby serving as a novel counter-selectable cassette to establish the TCCRAS system. Using a single vector, such a system has been employed to perform in-frame deletion, functional knock-in, gene replacement, precise point mutation, large-scale insertion, and especially, deletion of the fragments up to 194.9 kb in B. subtilis. In addition, the biosynthesis of lycopene was first achieved in B. subtilis using TCCRAS to integrate a 5.4-kb fusion cluster ( P spac- crtI- crtE- crtB). The system was further adapted for gene knockdown and replacement, and large-scale deletion of the fragments up to 179.8 kb in C. glutamicum, with the mutation efficiencies increased by 0.8-1.0-fold compared to the conventional SacB method. TCCRAS thus holds promise as an effective and versatile genome-scale engineering technology for metabolic engineering and synthetic genomics research in a broad range of the Gram-positive bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Aihua Deng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qinyun Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Hua Bai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhaopeng Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiuling Shang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qian Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yong Liang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Shuwen Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yongsheng Che
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology & Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Tingyi Wen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Savaid medical school, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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8
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Vazquez-Vilar M, Quijano-Rubio A, Fernandez-Del-Carmen A, Sarrion-Perdigones A, Ochoa-Fernandez R, Ziarsolo P, Blanca J, Granell A, Orzaez D. GB3.0: a platform for plant bio-design that connects functional DNA elements with associated biological data. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:2196-2209. [PMID: 28053117 PMCID: PMC5389719 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw1326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Modular DNA assembly simplifies multigene engineering in Plant Synthetic Biology. Furthermore, the recent adoption of a common syntax to facilitate the exchange of plant DNA parts (phytobricks) is a promising strategy to speed up genetic engineering. Following this lead, here, we present a platform for plant biodesign that incorporates functional descriptions of phytobricks obtained under pre-defined experimental conditions, and systematically registers the resulting information as metadata for documentation. To facilitate the handling of functional descriptions, we developed a new version (v3.0) of the GoldenBraid (GB) webtool that integrates the experimental data and displays it in the form of datasheets. We report the use of the Luciferase/Renilla (Luc/Ren) transient agroinfiltration assay in Nicotiana benthamiana as a standard to estimate relative transcriptional activities conferred by regulatory phytobricks, and show the consistency and reproducibility of this method in the characterization of a synthetic phytobrick based on the CaMV35S promoter. Furthermore, we illustrate the potential for combinatorial optimization and incremental innovation of the GB3.0 platform in two separate examples, (i) the development of a collection of orthogonal transcriptional regulators based on phiC31 integrase and (ii) the design of a small genetic circuit that connects a glucocorticoid switch to a MYB/bHLH transcriptional activation module.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Vazquez-Vilar
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Alfredo Quijano-Rubio
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Asun Fernandez-Del-Carmen
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Alejandro Sarrion-Perdigones
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rocio Ochoa-Fernandez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Peio Ziarsolo
- Centro de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana (COMAV), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - José Blanca
- Centro de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana (COMAV), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Antonio Granell
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Diego Orzaez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
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9
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Kumar M, Yadav AK, Verma V, Singh B, Mal G, Nagpal R, Hemalatha R. Bioengineered probiotics as a new hope for health and diseases: an overview of potential and prospects. Future Microbiol 2016; 11:585-600. [PMID: 27070955 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.16.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the use of microorganisms as therapeutics for over a century, the scientific and clinical admiration of their potential is a recent phenomenon. Genome sequencing and genetic engineering has enabled researchers to develop novel strategies, such as bioengineered probiotics or pharmabiotics, which may become a therapeutic strategy. Bioengineered probiotics with multiple immunogenic or antagonistic properties could be a viable option to improve human health. The bacteria are tailored to deliver drugs, therapeutic proteins or gene therapy vectors with precision and a higher degree of site specificity than conventional drug administration regimes. This article provides an overview of methodological concepts, thereby encouraging research and interest in this topic, with the ultimate goal of using designer probiotics as therapeutics in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj Kumar
- Department of Clinical Microbiology & Immunology, National Institute of Nutrition, ICMR Hyderabad, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Yadav
- Department of Clinical Microbiology & Immunology, National Institute of Nutrition, ICMR Hyderabad, India
| | - Vinod Verma
- Centre of Biotechnology, Nehru Science Complex, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India
| | - Birbal Singh
- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Regional Station, Palampur, India
| | - Gorakh Mal
- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Regional Station, Palampur, India
| | - Ravinder Nagpal
- Probiotics Research Laboratory, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo
| | - Rajkumar Hemalatha
- Department of Clinical Microbiology & Immunology, National Institute of Nutrition, ICMR Hyderabad, India
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10
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11
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Guazzaroni ME, Silva-Rocha R, Ward RJ. Synthetic biology approaches to improve biocatalyst identification in metagenomic library screening. Microb Biotechnol 2014; 8:52-64. [PMID: 25123225 PMCID: PMC4321373 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Revised: 06/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing demand for enzymes with improved catalytic performance or tolerance to process-specific parameters, and biotechnology plays a crucial role in the development of biocatalysts for use in industry, agriculture, medicine and energy generation. Metagenomics takes advantage of the wealth of genetic and biochemical diversity present in the genomes of microorganisms found in environmental samples, and provides a set of new technologies directed towards screening for new catalytic activities from environmental samples with potential biotechnology applications. However, biased and low level of expression of heterologous proteins in Escherichia coli together with the use of non-optimal cloning vectors for the construction of metagenomic libraries generally results in an extremely low success rate for enzyme identification. The bottleneck arising from inefficient screening of enzymatic activities has been addressed from several perspectives; however, the limitations related to biased expression in heterologous hosts cannot be overcome by using a single approach, but rather requires the synergetic implementation of multiple methodologies. Here, we review some of the principal constraints regarding the discovery of new enzymes in metagenomic libraries and discuss how these might be resolved by using synthetic biology methods.
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12
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Scharff LB, Bock R. Synthetic biology in plastids. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2014; 78:783-98. [PMID: 24147738 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2013] [Revised: 10/08/2013] [Accepted: 10/16/2013] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Plastids (chloroplasts) harbor a small gene-dense genome that is amenable to genetic manipulation by transformation. During 1 billion years of evolution from the cyanobacterial endosymbiont to present-day chloroplasts, the plastid genome has undergone a dramatic size reduction, mainly as a result of gene losses and the large-scale transfer of genes to the nuclear genome. Thus the plastid genome can be regarded as a naturally evolved miniature genome, the gradual size reduction and compaction of which has provided a blueprint for the design of minimum genomes. Furthermore, because of the largely prokaryotic genome structure and gene expression machinery, the high transgene expression levels attainable in transgenic chloroplasts and the very low production costs in plant systems, the chloroplast lends itself to synthetic biology applications that are directed towards the efficient synthesis of green chemicals, biopharmaceuticals and other metabolites of commercial interest. This review describes recent progress with the engineering of plastid genomes with large constructs of foreign or synthetic DNA, and highlights the potential of the chloroplast as a model system in bottom-up and top-down synthetic biology approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars B Scharff
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
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13
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Guimaraes JC, Rocha M, Arkin AP, Cambray G. D-Tailor: automated analysis and design of DNA sequences. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 30:1087-1094. [PMID: 24398007 PMCID: PMC3982154 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btt742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Motivation: Current advances in DNA synthesis, cloning and sequencing technologies afford high-throughput implementation of artificial sequences into living cells. However, flexible computational tools for multi-objective sequence design are lacking, limiting the potential of these technologies. Results: We developed DNA-Tailor (D-Tailor), a fully extendable software framework, for property-based design of synthetic DNA sequences. D-Tailor permits the seamless integration of multiple sequence analysis tools into a generic Monte Carlo simulation that evolves sequences toward any combination of rationally defined properties. As proof of principle, we show that D-Tailor is capable of designing sequence libraries comprising all possible combinations among three different sequence properties influencing translation efficiency in Escherichia coli. The capacity to design artificial sequences that systematically sample any given parameter space should support the implementation of more rigorous experimental designs. Availability: Source code is available for download at https://sourceforge.net/projects/dtailor/ Contact:aparkin@lbl.gov or cambray.guillaume@gmail.com Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online (D-Tailor Tutorial).
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Affiliation(s)
- Joao C Guimaraes
- Department of Bioengineering, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA, Computer Science and Technology Center, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal and Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA Department of Bioengineering, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA, Computer Science and Technology Center, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal and Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA Department of Bioengineering, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA, Computer Science and Technology Center, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal and Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Miguel Rocha
- Department of Bioengineering, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA, Computer Science and Technology Center, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal and Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Adam P Arkin
- Department of Bioengineering, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA, Computer Science and Technology Center, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal and Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA Department of Bioengineering, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA, Computer Science and Technology Center, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal and Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA Department of Bioengineering, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA, Computer Science and Technology Center, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal and Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Guillaume Cambray
- Department of Bioengineering, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA, Computer Science and Technology Center, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal and Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
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14
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Cangelosi C, Shank C, Santiago C, Wilson JW. Engineering large functional plasmids for biosafety. Plasmid 2013; 70:385-92. [PMID: 24055203 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2013.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2013] [Revised: 09/08/2013] [Accepted: 09/10/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Large bacterial plasmid constructs (generally 25-100 kb, but can be greater), such as those engineered with DNA encoding specific functions such as protein secretion or specialized metabolism, can carry antibiotic resistance genes and/or conjugation systems that typically must be removed before use in medical or environmental settings due to biosafety concerns. However, a convenient in vivo recombineering approach for intact large plasmids to sequentially remove multiple different genes using non-antibiotic selection methods is not described in the literature to our knowledge. We developed strategies and reagents for convenient removal of antibiotic resistance markers and conjugation genes while retaining non-antibiotic-based plasmid selection to increase practical utility of large engineered plasmids. This approach utilizes targeted lambda Red recombination of PCR products encoding the trpE and asd genes and as well as FLP/FRT-mediated marker removal. This is particularly important given that use of restriction enzymes with plasmids of this size is extremely problematic and often not feasible. This report provides the first example of the trpE gene/tryptophan prototrophy being used for recombineering selection. We applied this strategy to the plasmids R995+SPI-1 and R995+SPI-2 which encode cloned type III secretion systems to allow protein secretion and substrate delivery to eukaryotic cells. The resulting constructs are functional, stably maintained under conditions where the original constructs are unstable, completely defective for conjugative transfer, and transferred via electroporation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Cangelosi
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085, USA
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Giese B, Koenigstein S, Wigger H, Schmidt JC, von Gleich A. Rational Engineering Principles in Synthetic Biology: A Framework for Quantitative Analysis and an Initial Assessment. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s13752-013-0130-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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16
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Cambray G, Guimaraes JC, Mutalik VK, Lam C, Mai QA, Thimmaiah T, Carothers JM, Arkin AP, Endy D. Measurement and modeling of intrinsic transcription terminators. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:5139-48. [PMID: 23511967 PMCID: PMC3643576 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The reliable forward engineering of genetic systems remains limited by the ad hoc reuse of many types of basic genetic elements. Although a few intrinsic prokaryotic transcription terminators are used routinely, termination efficiencies have not been studied systematically. Here, we developed and validated a genetic architecture that enables reliable measurement of termination efficiencies. We then assembled a collection of 61 natural and synthetic terminators that collectively encode termination efficiencies across an ∼800-fold dynamic range within Escherichia coli. We simulated co-transcriptional RNA folding dynamics to identify competing secondary structures that might interfere with terminator folding kinetics or impact termination activity. We found that structures extending beyond the core terminator stem are likely to increase terminator activity. By excluding terminators encoding such context-confounding elements, we were able to develop a linear sequence-function model that can be used to estimate termination efficiencies (r = 0.9, n = 31) better than models trained on all terminators (r = 0.67, n = 54). The resulting systematically measured collection of terminators should improve the engineering of synthetic genetic systems and also advance quantitative modeling of transcription termination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Cambray
- BIOFAB International Open Facility Advancing Biotechnology (BIOFAB), 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
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Precise and reliable gene expression via standard transcription and translation initiation elements. Nat Methods 2013; 10:354-60. [DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.2404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 541] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2012] [Accepted: 02/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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18
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Quantitative estimation of activity and quality for collections of functional genetic elements. Nat Methods 2013; 10:347-53. [DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.2403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2012] [Accepted: 02/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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19
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Itaya M. Tools for Genome Synthesis. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394430-6.00012-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
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Litcofsky KD, Afeyan RB, Krom RJ, Khalil AS, Collins JJ. Iterative plug-and-play methodology for constructing and modifying synthetic gene networks. Nat Methods 2012; 9:1077-80. [PMID: 23042452 PMCID: PMC3492501 DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.2205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2012] [Accepted: 09/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We present a methodology for the design, construction, and modification of synthetic gene networks. This method emphasizes post-assembly modification of constructs based on network behavior, thus facilitating iterative design strategies and rapid tuning and repurposing of gene networks. The ease of post-construction modifications afforded by this approach and the ever-increasing repository of components within the framework will help to fast-track the development of functional genetic circuits for synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Litcofsky
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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21
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Leprince A, van Passel MWJ, dos Santos VAPM. Streamlining genomes: toward the generation of simplified and stabilized microbial systems. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2012; 23:651-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2012.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2012] [Revised: 05/01/2012] [Accepted: 05/02/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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22
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Directed evolution: an evolving and enabling synthetic biology tool. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2012; 16:285-91. [PMID: 22673064 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2012.05.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2012] [Revised: 05/06/2012] [Accepted: 05/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology, with its goal of designing biological entities for wide-ranging purposes, remains a field of intensive research interest. However, the vast complexity of biological systems has heretofore rendered rational design prohibitively difficult. As a result, directed evolution remains a valuable tool for synthetic biology, enabling the identification of desired functionalities from large libraries of variants. This review highlights the most recent advances in the use of directed evolution in synthetic biology, focusing on new techniques and applications at the pathway and genome scale.
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Cardinale S, Arkin AP. Contextualizing context for synthetic biology--identifying causes of failure of synthetic biological systems. Biotechnol J 2012; 7:856-66. [PMID: 22649052 PMCID: PMC3440575 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201200085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 250] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2012] [Revised: 04/12/2012] [Accepted: 05/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite the efforts that bioengineers have exerted in designing and constructing biological processes that function according to a predetermined set of rules, their operation remains fundamentally circumstantial. The contextual situation in which molecules and single-celled or multi-cellular organisms find themselves shapes the way they interact, respond to the environment and process external information. Since the birth of the field, synthetic biologists have had to grapple with contextual issues, particularly when the molecular and genetic devices inexplicably fail to function as designed when tested in vivo. In this review, we set out to identify and classify the sources of the unexpected divergences between design and actual function of synthetic systems and analyze possible methodologies aimed at controlling, if not preventing, unwanted contextual issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Cardinale
- Physical Biosciences Division, LBNL, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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Genome engineering in Vibrio cholerae: a feasible approach to address biological issues. PLoS Genet 2012; 8:e1002472. [PMID: 22253612 PMCID: PMC3257285 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2011] [Accepted: 11/24/2011] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Although bacteria with multipartite genomes are prevalent, our knowledge of the mechanisms maintaining their genome is very limited, and much remains to be learned about the structural and functional interrelationships of multiple chromosomes. Owing to its bi-chromosomal genome architecture and its importance in public health, Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera, has become a preferred model to study bacteria with multipartite genomes. However, most in vivo studies in V. cholerae have been hampered by its genome architecture, as it is difficult to give phenotypes to a specific chromosome. This difficulty was surmounted using a unique and powerful strategy based on massive rearrangement of prokaryotic genomes. We developed a site-specific recombination-based engineering tool, which allows targeted, oriented, and reciprocal DNA exchanges. Using this genetic tool, we obtained a panel of V. cholerae mutants with various genome configurations: one with a single chromosome, one with two chromosomes of equal size, and one with both chromosomes controlled by identical origins. We used these synthetic strains to address several biological questions--the specific case of the essentiality of Dam methylation in V. cholerae and the general question concerning bacteria carrying circular chromosomes--by looking at the effect of chromosome size on topological issues. In this article, we show that Dam, RctB, and ParA2/ParB2 are strictly essential for chrII origin maintenance, and we formally demonstrate that the formation of chromosome dimers increases exponentially with chromosome size.
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