1
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Ahsan A, Wagner D, Varaljay VA, Roman V, Kelley-Loughnane N, Reuel NF. Screening putative polyester polyurethane degrading enzymes with semi-automated cell-free expression and nitrophenyl probes. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2024; 9:ysae005. [PMID: 38414826 PMCID: PMC10898825 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysae005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell-free expression (CFE) has shown recent utility in prototyping enzymes for discovery efforts. In this work, CFE is demonstrated as an effective tool to screen putative polyester polyurethane degrading enzyme sequences sourced from metagenomic analysis of biofilms prospected on aircraft and vehicles. An automated fluid handler with a controlled temperature block is used to assemble the numerous 30 µL CFE reactions to provide more consistent results over human assembly. In sum, 13 putative hydrolase enzymes from the biofilm organisms as well as a previously verified, polyester-degrading cutinase were expressed using in-house E. coli extract and minimal linear templates. The enzymes were then tested for esterase activity directly in extract using nitrophenyl conjugated substrates, showing highest sensitivity to shorter substrates (4-nitrophenyl hexanoate and 4-nNitrophenyl valerate). This screen identified 10 enzymes with statistically significant activities against these substrates; however, all were lower in measured relative activity, on a CFE volume basis, to the established cutinase control. This approach portends the use of CFE and reporter probes to rapidly prototype, screen and design for synthetic polymer degrading enzymes from environmental consortia. Graphical Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afrin Ahsan
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Dominique Wagner
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
- UES Inc., Dayton, OH, USA
| | - Vanessa A Varaljay
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - Victor Roman
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - Nancy Kelley-Loughnane
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - Nigel F Reuel
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
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2
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Beabout K, Ehrenworth Breedon AM, Blum SM, Miklos AE, Lux MW, Chávez JL, Goodson MS. Detection of Bile Acids in Complex Matrices Using a Transcription Factor-Based Biosensor. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:5151-5162. [PMID: 36475595 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c01006] [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] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Bile acids play an important role in digestion and human health, are found throughout the gastrointestinal tract, and are excreted in feces. Therefore, bile acids are promising biomarkers for monitoring health and detecting fecal contamination in water sources. Here, we engineered a bile acid sensor by expressing the transcription factor BreR, a TetR-like repressor from Vibrio cholorae, in Escherichia coli. The sensor was further optimized by screening a promoter library. To further characterize the BreR sensor and increase its utility, we moved expression to a cell-free expression (CFE) system, resulting in an approximately 3 orders of magnitude increase in deoxycholic acid sensitivity. We next optimized this sensor to detect bile acids in fecal water, wastewater, and serum and transferred the CFE sensor to a paper-based assay to enhance fieldability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Beabout
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
- UES, Inc., Dayton, Ohio 45432, United States
| | - Amy M Ehrenworth Breedon
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
- UES, Inc., Dayton, Ohio 45432, United States
| | - Steven M Blum
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Aleksandr E Miklos
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Matthew W Lux
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Jorge L Chávez
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Michael S Goodson
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
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3
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Bird LJ, Mickol RL, Eddie BJ, Thakur M, Yates MD, Glaven SM. Marinobacter: A case study in bioelectrochemical chassis evaluation. Microb Biotechnol 2023; 16:494-506. [PMID: 36464922 PMCID: PMC9948230 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14170] [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: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The junction of bioelectrochemical systems and synthetic biology opens the door to many potentially groundbreaking technologies. When developing these possibilities, choosing the correct chassis organism can save a great deal of engineering effort and, indeed, can mean the difference between success and failure. Choosing the correct chassis for a specific application requires a knowledge of the metabolic potential of the candidate organisms, as well as a clear delineation of the traits, required in the application. In this review, we will explore the metabolic and electrochemical potential of a single genus, Marinobacter. We will cover its strengths, (salt tolerance, biofilm formation and electrochemical potential) and weaknesses (insufficient characterization of many strains and a less developed toolbox for genetic manipulation) in potential synthetic electromicrobiology applications. In doing so, we will provide a roadmap for choosing a chassis organism for bioelectrochemical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina J Bird
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Rebecca L Mickol
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Brian J Eddie
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Meghna Thakur
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,College of Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
| | - Matthew D Yates
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Sarah M Glaven
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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4
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Sánchez-Costa M, López-Gallego F. Solid-Phase Cell-Free Protein Synthesis and Its Applications in Biotechnology. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 185:21-46. [PMID: 37306703 DOI: 10.1007/10_2023_226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free systems for the in vitro production of proteins have revolutionized the synthetic biology field. In the last decade, this technology is gaining momentum in molecular biology, biotechnology, biomedicine and even education. Materials science has burst into the field of in vitro protein synthesis to empower the value of existing tools and expand its applications. In this sense, the combination of solid materials (normally functionalized with different biomacromolecules) together with cell-free components has made this technology more versatile and robust. In this chapter, we discuss the combination of solid materials with DNA and transcription-translation machinery to synthesize proteins within compartments, to immobilize and purify in situ the nascent protein, to transcribe and transduce DNAs immobilized on solid surfaces, and the combination of all or some of these strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Sánchez-Costa
- Heterogeneous Biocatalysis Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Fernando López-Gallego
- Heterogeneous Biocatalysis Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
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5
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Chemla Y, Dorfan Y, Yannai A, Meng D, Cao P, Glaven S, Gordon DB, Elbaz J, Voigt CA. Parallel engineering of environmental bacteria and performance over years under jungle-simulated conditions. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278471. [PMID: 36516154 PMCID: PMC9750038 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Engineered bacteria could perform many functions in the environment, for example, to remediate pollutants, deliver nutrients to crops or act as in-field biosensors. Model organisms can be unreliable in the field, but selecting an isolate from the thousands that naturally live there and genetically manipulating them to carry the desired function is a slow and uninformed process. Here, we demonstrate the parallel engineering of isolates from environmental samples by using the broad-host-range XPORT conjugation system (Bacillus subtilis mini-ICEBs1) to transfer a genetic payload to many isolates in parallel. Bacillus and Lysinibacillus species were obtained from seven soil and water samples from different locations in Israel. XPORT successfully transferred a genetic function (reporter expression) into 25 of these isolates. They were then screened to identify the best-performing chassis based on the expression level, doubling time, functional stability in soil, and environmentally-relevant traits of its closest annotated reference species, such as the ability to sporulate and temperature tolerance. From this library, we selected Bacillus frigoritolerans A3E1, re-introduced it to soil, and measured function and genetic stability in a contained environment that replicates jungle conditions. After 21 months of storage, the engineered bacteria were viable, could perform their function, and did not accumulate disruptive mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonatan Chemla
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Yuval Dorfan
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Adi Yannai
- School of Molecular Cell Biology & Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dechuan Meng
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Paul Cao
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sarah Glaven
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - D. Benjamin Gordon
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Johann Elbaz
- School of Molecular Cell Biology & Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Christopher A. Voigt
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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6
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Harbaugh SV, Silverman AD, Chushak YG, Zimlich K, Wolfe M, Thavarajah W, Jewett MC, Lucks JB, Chávez JL. Engineering a Synthetic Dopamine-Responsive Riboswitch for In Vitro Biosensing. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:2275-2283. [PMID: 35775197 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The detection of chemicals using natural allosteric transcription factors is a powerful strategy for point-of-use molecular sensing, particularly using fieldable cell-free gene expression (CFE) systems. However, the reliance of detection schemes on characterized protein-based sensors limits the number of measurable analytes. One alternative solution to this issue is to develop new sensors by generating RNA aptamers against the target analyte and then incorporating them directly into a riboswitch scaffold for ligand-inducible genetic control of a reporter protein. However, this strategy has not generated more than a handful of successful portable cell-free molecular sensors. To address this gap, here we convert dopamine-binding aptamers into functional dopamine-sensing riboswitches that regulate gene expression in a freeze-dried CFE reaction. We then develop an assay for direct detection and semi-quantification of dopamine in human urine. We anticipate that this work will be broadly applicable for converting many in vitro-generated RNA aptamers into fieldable molecular diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana V Harbaugh
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Adam D Silverman
- Sherlock Biosciences, Boston, Massachusetts 02135, United States
| | - Yaroslav G Chushak
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Dayton, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Kathryn Zimlich
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Dayton, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Monica Wolfe
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States.,UES, Inc., Dayton, Ohio 45432, United States
| | - Walter Thavarajah
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Michael C Jewett
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,International Institute of Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Julius B Lucks
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,International Institute of Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Jorge L Chávez
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
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7
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Sharpes CE, McManus JB, Blum SM, Mgboji GE, Lux MW. Assessment of Colorimetric Reporter Enzymes in the PURE System. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:3205-3208. [PMID: 34723497 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Colorimetric reporter enzymes are useful for generating eye-readable biosensor readouts that do not require a device to interpret, an attractive property for applications in remote or developing parts of the world. The use of cell-free gene expression further facilitates such applications via amenability to lyophilization and incorporation into materials like paper. Currently, detection of multiple analytes simultaneously with these systems requires multiple reactions or a device. Here we evaluate seven enzymes and 15 corresponding substrates for functionality in a particular cell-free expression system known as PURE. We report eight enzyme/substrate pairs spanning four enzymes that are compatible with PURE. Of the four enzymes, three pairings exhibit no cross-reactivity. We finally show that at least one pairing can be used to create a third color when both are present, highlighting the potential use of these reporters for multiplex sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin E. Sharpes
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8198 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
- Excet, Inc., 6225 Brandon Avenue 360, Springfield, Virginia 22150, United States
| | - John B. McManus
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8198 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Steven M. Blum
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8198 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Glory E. Mgboji
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8198 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, 1299 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830-6209, United States
| | - Matthew W. Lux
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8198 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
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8
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Beabout K, Bernhards CB, Thakur M, Turner KB, Cole SD, Walper SA, Chávez JL, Lux MW. Optimization of Heavy Metal Sensors Based on Transcription Factors and Cell-Free Expression Systems. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:3040-3054. [PMID: 34723503 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Many bacterial mechanisms for highly specific and sensitive detection of heavy metals and other hazards have been reengineered to serve as sensors. In some cases, these sensors have been implemented in cell-free expression systems, enabling easier design optimization and deployment in low-resource settings through lyophilization. Here, we apply the advantages of cell-free expression systems to optimize sensors based on three separate bacterial response mechanisms for arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. We achieved detection limits below the World Health Organization-recommended levels for arsenic and mercury and below the short-term US Military Exposure Guideline levels for all three. The optimization of each sensor was approached differently, leading to observations useful for the development of future sensors: (1) there can be a strong dependence of specificity on the particular cell-free expression system used, (2) tuning of relative concentrations of the sensing and reporter elements improves sensitivity, and (3) sensor performance can vary significantly with linear vs plasmid DNA. In addition, we show that simply combining DNA for the three sensors into a single reaction enables detection of each target heavy metal without any further optimization. This combined approach could lead to sensors that detect a range of hazards at once, such as a panel of water contaminants or all known variants of a target virus. For low-resource settings, such "all-hazard" sensors in a cheap, easy-to-use format could have high utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Beabout
- UES, Inc., Dayton, Ohio 45432, United States
- Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th Human Performance Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Casey B. Bernhards
- Excet, Inc., 6225 Brandon Avenue #360, Springfield, Virginia 22150, United States
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8198 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Meghna Thakur
- Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States
- College of Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030, United States
| | - Kendrick B. Turner
- Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States
| | - Stephanie D. Cole
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8198 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Scott A. Walper
- Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States
| | - Jorge L. Chávez
- Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th Human Performance Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Matthew W. Lux
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8198 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
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9
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Pandey RP, Casini A, Voigt CA, Gordon DB. Four-Step Pathway from Phenylpyruvate to Benzylamine, an Intermediate to the High-Energy Propellant CL-20. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:2187-2196. [PMID: 34491727 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Benzylamine is a commodity chemical used in the synthesis of motion-sickness treatments and anticonvulsants, in dyeing textiles, and as a precursor to the high-energy propellant CL-20. Because chemical production generates toxic waste streams, biosynthetic alternatives have been explored, recently resulting in a functional nine-step pathway from central metabolism (phenylalanine) in E. coli. We report a novel four-step pathway for benzylamine production, which generates the product from cellular phenylpyruvate using enzymes from different sources: a mandelate synthase (Amycolatopsis orientalis), a mandelate oxidase (Streptomyces coelicolor), a benzoylformate decarboxylase (Pseudomonas putida), and an aminotransferase (Salicibacter pomeroyi). This pathway produces benzylamine at 24 mg/L in 15 h (4.5% yield) in cultures of unoptimized cells supplemented with phenylpyruvate. Because the yield is low, supplementation with pathway intermediates is used to troubleshoot the design. This identifies conversion inefficiencies in the mandelate synthase-mediated synthesis of (S)-mandelic acid, and subsequent genome mining identifies a new mandelate synthase (Streptomyces sp. 1114.5) with improved yield. Supplementation experiments also reveal native redirection of ambient phenylpyruvate away from the pathway to phenylalanine. Overall, this work illustrates how retrosynthetic design can dramatically reduce the number of enzymes in a pathway, potentially reducing its draw on cellular resources. However, it also shows that such benefits can be abrogated by inefficiencies of individual conversions. Addressing these barriers can provide an alternative approach to green production of benzylamine, eliminating upstream dependence on chlorination chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Prasad Pandey
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Arturo Casini
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Christopher A. Voigt
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - D. Benjamin Gordon
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
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10
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Blum SM, Lee MS, Mgboji GE, Funk VL, Beabout K, Harbaugh SV, Roth PA, Liem AT, Miklos AE, Emanuel PA, Walper SA, Chávez JL, Lux MW. Impact of Porous Matrices and Concentration by Lyophilization on Cell-Free Expression. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:1116-1131. [PMID: 33843211 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free expression systems have drawn increasing attention as a tool to achieve complex biological functions outside of the cell. Several applications of the technology involve the delivery of functionality to challenging environments, such as field-forward diagnostics or point-of-need manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. To achieve these goals, cell-free reaction components are preserved using encapsulation or lyophilization methods, both of which often involve an embedding of components in porous matrices like paper or hydrogels. Previous work has shown a range of impacts of porous materials on cell-free expression reactions. Here, we explored a panel of 32 paperlike materials and 5 hydrogel materials for the impact on reaction performance. The screen included a tolerance to lyophilization for reaction systems based on both cell lysates and purified expression components. For paperlike materials, we found that (1) materials based on synthetic polymers were mostly incompatible with cell-free expression, (2) lysate-based reactions were largely insensitive to the matrix for cellulosic and microfiber materials, and (3) purified systems had an improved performance when lyophilized in cellulosic but not microfiber matrices. The impact of hydrogel materials ranged from completely inhibitory to a slight enhancement. The exploration of modulating the rehydration volume of lyophilized reactions yielded reaction speed increases using an enzymatic colorimetric reporter of up to twofold with an optimal ratio of 2:1 lyophilized reaction to rehydration volume for the lysate system and 1.5:1 for the purified system. The effect was independent of the matrices assessed. Testing with a fluorescent nonenzymatic reporter and no matrix showed similar improvements in both yields and reaction speeds for the lysate system and yields but not reaction speeds for the purified system. We finally used these observations to show an improved performance of two sensors that span reaction types, matrix, and reporters. In total, these results should enhance efforts to develop field-forward applications of cell-free expression systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M. Blum
- United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center. 8198 Blackhawk Road, APG, Aberdeen, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Marilyn S. Lee
- United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center. 8198 Blackhawk Road, APG, Aberdeen, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Glory E. Mgboji
- United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center. 8198 Blackhawk Road, APG, Aberdeen, Maryland 21010, United States
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830-6209, United States
| | - Vanessa L. Funk
- United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center. 8198 Blackhawk Road, APG, Aberdeen, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Kathryn Beabout
- UES, Inc., Dayton, Ohio 45432, United States
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Svetlana V. Harbaugh
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Pierce A. Roth
- United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center. 8198 Blackhawk Road, APG, Aberdeen, Maryland 21010, United States
- DCS Corporation, 4696 Millenium Drive, Suite 450, Belcamp, Maryland 21017, United States
| | - Alvin T. Liem
- United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center. 8198 Blackhawk Road, APG, Aberdeen, Maryland 21010, United States
- DCS Corporation, 4696 Millenium Drive, Suite 450, Belcamp, Maryland 21017, United States
| | - Aleksandr E. Miklos
- United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center. 8198 Blackhawk Road, APG, Aberdeen, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Peter A. Emanuel
- United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center. 8198 Blackhawk Road, APG, Aberdeen, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Scott A. Walper
- Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20375, United States
| | - Jorge Luis Chávez
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Matthew W. Lux
- United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center. 8198 Blackhawk Road, APG, Aberdeen, Maryland 21010, United States
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11
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Hershewe JM, Warfel KF, Iyer SM, Peruzzi JA, Sullivan CJ, Roth EW, DeLisa MP, Kamat NP, Jewett MC. Improving cell-free glycoprotein synthesis by characterizing and enriching native membrane vesicles. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2363. [PMID: 33888690 PMCID: PMC8062659 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22329-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-free gene expression (CFE) systems from crude cellular extracts have attracted much attention for biomanufacturing and synthetic biology. However, activating membrane-dependent functionality of cell-derived vesicles in bacterial CFE systems has been limited. Here, we address this limitation by characterizing native membrane vesicles in Escherichia coli-based CFE extracts and describing methods to enrich vesicles with heterologous, membrane-bound machinery. As a model, we focus on bacterial glycoengineering. We first use multiple, orthogonal techniques to characterize vesicles and show how extract processing methods can be used to increase concentrations of membrane vesicles in CFE systems. Then, we show that extracts enriched in vesicle number also display enhanced concentrations of heterologous membrane protein cargo. Finally, we apply our methods to enrich membrane-bound oligosaccharyltransferases and lipid-linked oligosaccharides for improving cell-free N-linked and O-linked glycoprotein synthesis. We anticipate that these methods will facilitate on-demand glycoprotein production and enable new CFE systems with membrane-associated activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine M Hershewe
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Katherine F Warfel
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Shaelyn M Iyer
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Justin A Peruzzi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Claretta J Sullivan
- Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH, 45433, USA
| | - Eric W Roth
- Northwestern University Atomic and Nanoscale Characterization and Experimentation (NUANCE) Center, Tech Institute A/B Wing A173, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Matthew P DeLisa
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- Biomedical and Biological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Neha P Kamat
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E310, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Michael C Jewett
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
- Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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12
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Cole SD, Miklos AE, Chiao AC, Sun ZZ, Lux MW. Methodologies for preparation of prokaryotic extracts for cell-free expression systems. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2020; 5:252-267. [PMID: 32775710 PMCID: PMC7398980 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2020.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free systems that mimic essential cell functions, such as gene expression, have dramatically expanded in recent years, both in terms of applications and widespread adoption. Here we provide a review of cell-extract methods, with a specific focus on prokaryotic systems. Firstly, we describe the diversity of Escherichia coli genetic strains available and their corresponding utility. We then trace the history of cell-extract methodology over the past 20 years, showing key improvements that lower the entry level for new researchers. Next, we survey the rise of new prokaryotic cell-free systems, with associated methods, and the opportunities provided. Finally, we use this historical perspective to comment on the role of methodology improvements and highlight where further improvements may be possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie D. Cole
- US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8567 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, USA
| | - Aleksandr E. Miklos
- US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8567 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, USA
| | - Abel C. Chiao
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Synvitrobio Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Zachary Z. Sun
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Synvitrobio Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Matthew W. Lux
- US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8567 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, USA
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13
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Schwanemann T, Otto M, Wierckx N, Wynands B. Pseudomonasas Versatile Aromatics Cell Factory. Biotechnol J 2020; 15:e1900569. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201900569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Schwanemann
- Institute of Bio‐ and Geosciences, IBG‐1: Biotechnology Forschungszentrum Jülich, GmbH 52425 Jülich Germany
| | - Maike Otto
- Institute of Bio‐ and Geosciences, IBG‐1: Biotechnology Forschungszentrum Jülich, GmbH 52425 Jülich Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Institute of Bio‐ and Geosciences, IBG‐1: Biotechnology Forschungszentrum Jülich, GmbH 52425 Jülich Germany
| | - Benedikt Wynands
- Institute of Bio‐ and Geosciences, IBG‐1: Biotechnology Forschungszentrum Jülich, GmbH 52425 Jülich Germany
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14
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Lee MS, Hung CS, Phillips DA, Buck CC, Gupta MK, Lux MW. Silk fibroin as an additive for cell-free protein synthesis. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2020; 5:145-154. [PMID: 32637668 PMCID: PMC7320238 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2020.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-free systems contain many proteins and metabolites required for complex functions such as transcription and translation or multi-step metabolic conversions. Research into expanding the delivery of these systems by drying or by embedding into other materials is enabling new applications in sensing, point-of-need manufacturing, and responsive materials. Meanwhile, silk fibroin from the silk worm, Bombyx mori, has received attention as a protective additive for dried enzyme formulations and as a material to build biocompatible hydrogels for controlled localization or delivery of biomolecular cargoes. In this work, we explore the effects of silk fibroin as an additive in cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) reactions. Impacts of silk fibroin on CFPS activity and stability after drying, as well as the potential for incorporation of CFPS into hydrogels of crosslinked silk fibroin are assessed. We find that simple addition of silk fibroin increased productivity of the CFPS reactions by up to 42%, which we attribute to macromolecular crowding effects. However, we did not find evidence that silk fibroin provides a protective effects after drying as previously described for purified enzymes. Further, the enzymatic crosslinking transformations of silk fibroin typically used to form hydrogels are inhibited in the presence of the CFPS reaction mixture. Crosslinking attempts did not impact CFPS activity, but did yield localized protein aggregates rather than a hydrogel. We discuss the mechanisms at play in these results and how the silk fibroin-CFPS system might be improved for the design of cell-free devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn S. Lee
- US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical and Biological Center, 8567 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, USA
| | - Chia-Suei Hung
- US Air Force Research Laboratory, 2179 12th St., B652/R122 Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, 45433, USA
| | - Daniel A. Phillips
- US Naval Research Laboratory Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Bldg. 42, Room 303 4555 Overlook Ave. Washington, DC 20375, UES Inc., 4401 Dayton Xenia Rd., Beavercreek, OH 45432, USA
| | - Chelsea C. Buck
- US Air Force Research Laboratory, 2179 12th St., B652/R122 Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, 45433, USA
- US Naval Research Laboratory Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Bldg. 42, Room 303 4555 Overlook Ave. Washington, DC 20375, UES Inc., 4401 Dayton Xenia Rd., Beavercreek, OH 45432, USA
| | - Maneesh K. Gupta
- US Air Force Research Laboratory, 2179 12th St., B652/R122 Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, 45433, USA
| | - Matthew W. Lux
- US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical and Biological Center, 8567 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, USA
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15
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Lee MS, Raig RM, Gupta MK, Lux MW. Lyophilized Cell-Free Systems Display Tolerance to Organic Solvent Exposure. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1951-1957. [PMID: 32646213 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00267] [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] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cell-free systems offer a powerful way to deliver biochemical activity to the field without cold chain storage. These systems are capable of sensing as well as biosynthesis of useful molecules at the point of need. So far, cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) reactions have been studied as aqueous solutions in test tubes or absorbed into paper or cloth. Embedding biological functionality into broadly used materials, such as plastic polymers, represents an attractive goal. Unfortunately, this goal has for the most part remained out of reach, presumably due to the fragility of biological systems outside of aqueous environments. Here, we describe a surprising and useful feature of lyophilized cell-free lysate systems: tolerance to a variety of organic solvents. Screens of individual CFPS reagents and different CFPS methods reveal that solvent tolerance varies by CFPS reagent composition. Tolerance to suspension in organic solvents may facilitate the use of polymers to deliver dry cell-free reactions in the form of coatings or fibers, or allow dosing of analytes or substrates dissolved in nonaqueous solvents, among other processing possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn S. Lee
- US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical and Biological Center, 8567 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Rebecca M. Raig
- US Air Force Research Laboratory, 2179 12th Street, B652/R122 Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
- UES Inc., 4401 Dayton-Xenia Road, Dayton, Ohio 45432, United States
| | - Maneesh K. Gupta
- US Air Force Research Laboratory, 2179 12th Street, B652/R122 Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Matthew W. Lux
- US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical and Biological Center, 8567 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
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16
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Silverman AD, Akova U, Alam KK, Jewett MC, Lucks JB. Design and Optimization of a Cell-Free Atrazine Biosensor. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:671-677. [PMID: 32078765 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.9b00388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in cell-free synthetic biology have spurred the development of in vitro molecular diagnostics that serve as effective alternatives to whole-cell biosensors. However, cell-free sensors for detecting manmade organic water contaminants such as pesticides are sparse, partially because few characterized natural biological sensors can directly detect such pollutants. Here, we present a platform for the cell-free detection of one critical water contaminant, atrazine, by combining a previously characterized cyanuric acid biosensor with a reconstituted atrazine-to-cyanuric acid metabolic pathway composed of several protein-enriched bacterial extracts mixed in a one pot reaction. Our cell-free sensor detects atrazine within an hour of incubation at an activation ratio superior to previously reported whole-cell atrazine sensors. We also show that the response characteristics of the atrazine sensor can be tuned by manipulating the ratios of enriched extracts in the cell-free reaction mixture. Our approach of utilizing multiple metabolic steps, encoded in protein-enriched cell-free extracts, to convert a target of interest into a molecule that can be sensed by a transcription factor is modular. Our work thus serves as an effective proof-of-concept for a scheme of "metabolic biosensing", which should enable rapid, field-deployable detection of complex organic water contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Michael C. Jewett
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Julius B. Lucks
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Center for Water Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Center for Engineering Sustainability and Resilience, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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