1
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Shin J, Zielinski DC, Palsson BO. Modulating bacterial function utilizing A knowledge base of transcriptional regulatory modules. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae742. [PMID: 39193902 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology enables the reprogramming of cellular functions for various applications. However, challenges in scalability and predictability persist due to context-dependent performance and complex circuit-host interactions. This study introduces an iModulon-based engineering approach, utilizing machine learning-defined co-regulated gene groups (iModulons) as design parts containing essential genes for specific functions. This approach identifies the necessary components for genetic circuits across different contexts, enhancing genome engineering by improving target selection and predicting module behavior. We demonstrate several distinct uses of iModulons: (i) discovery of unknown iModulons to increase protein productivity, heat tolerance and fructose utilization; (ii) an iModulon boosting approach, which amplifies the activity of specific iModulons, improved cell growth under osmotic stress with minimal host regulation disruption; (iii) an iModulon rebalancing strategy, which adjusts the activity levels of iModulons to balance cellular functions, significantly increased oxidative stress tolerance while minimizing trade-offs and (iv) iModulon-based gene annotation enabled natural competence activation by predictably rewiring iModulons. Comparative experiments with traditional methods showed our approach offers advantages in efficiency and predictability of strain engineering. This study demonstrates the potential of iModulon-based strategies to systematically and predictably reprogram cellular functions, offering refined and adaptable control over complex regulatory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongoh Shin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Daniel C Zielinski
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Bernhard O Palsson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby 2800, Denmark
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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2
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Liu X, de Bakker V, Heggenhougen MV, Mårli MT, Frøynes AH, Salehian Z, Porcellato D, Morales Angeles D, Veening JW, Kjos M. Genome-wide CRISPRi screens for high-throughput fitness quantification and identification of determinants for dalbavancin susceptibility in Staphylococcus aureus. mSystems 2024; 9:e0128923. [PMID: 38837392 PMCID: PMC11265419 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01289-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance and tolerance remain a major problem for the treatment of staphylococcal infections. Identifying genes that influence antibiotic susceptibility could open the door to novel antimicrobial strategies, including targets for new synergistic drug combinations. Here, we developed a genome-wide CRISPR interference library for Staphylococcus aureus, demonstrated its use by quantifying gene fitness in different strains through CRISPRi-seq, and used it to identify genes that modulate susceptibility to the lipoglycopeptide dalbavancin. By exposing the library to sublethal concentrations of dalbavancin using both CRISPRi-seq and direct selection methods, we not only found genes previously reported to be involved in antibiotic susceptibility but also identified genes thus far unknown to affect antibiotic tolerance. Importantly, some of these genes could not have been detected by more conventional transposon-based knockout approaches because they are essential for growth, stressing the complementary value of CRISPRi-based methods. Notably, knockdown of a gene encoding the uncharacterized protein KapB specifically sensitizes the cells to dalbavancin, but not to other antibiotics of the same class, whereas knockdown of the Shikimate pathway showed the opposite effect. The results presented here demonstrate the promise of CRISPRi-seq screens to identify genes and pathways involved in antibiotic susceptibility and pave the way to explore alternative antimicrobial treatments through these insights.IMPORTANCEAntibiotic resistance is a challenge for treating staphylococcal infections. Identifying genes that affect how antibiotics work could help create new treatments. In our study, we made a CRISPR interference library for Staphylococcus aureus and used this to find which genes are critical for growth and also mapped genes that are important for antibiotic sensitivity, focusing on the lipoglycopeptide antibiotic dalbavancin. With this method, we identified genes that altered the sensitivity to dalbavancin upon knockdown, including genes involved in different cellular functions. CRISPRi-seq offers a means to uncover untapped antibiotic targets, including those that conventional screens would disregard due to their essentiality. This paves the way for the discovery of new ways to fight infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Liu
- Department of Pathogen, Biology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, , Switzerland
| | - Vincent de Bakker
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, , Switzerland
| | | | - Marita Torrissen Mårli
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway
| | - Anette Heidal Frøynes
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway
| | - Zhian Salehian
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway
| | - Davide Porcellato
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway
| | - Danae Morales Angeles
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway
| | - Jan-Willem Veening
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, , Switzerland
| | - Morten Kjos
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway
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3
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Stukenberg D, Faber A, Becker A. Graded-CRISPRi, a Tool for Tuning the Strengths of CRISPRi-Mediated Knockdowns in Vibrio natriegens Using gRNA Libraries. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:2091-2104. [PMID: 38916455 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00056] [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: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, the fast-growing bacterium Vibrio natriegens has gained increasing attention as it has the potential to become a next-generation chassis for synthetic biology. A wide range of genetic parts and genome engineering methods have already been developed. However, there is still a need for a well-characterized tool to effectively and gradually reduce the expression levels of native genes. To bridge this gap, we created graded-CRISPRi, a system utilizing gRNA variants that lead to varying levels of repression strength. By incorporating multiple gRNA sequences into our design, we successfully extended this concept to simultaneously repress four distinct reporter genes. Furthermore, we demonstrated the capability of using graded-CRISPRi to target native genes, thereby examining the effect of various knockdown levels on growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Stukenberg
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg 35037, Germany
- Department of Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg 35037, Germany
| | - Anna Faber
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg 35037, Germany
- Department of Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg 35037, Germany
| | - Anke Becker
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg 35037, Germany
- Department of Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg 35037, Germany
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4
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Hriňová K, Dlapová J, Kubala B, Kormanová Ľ, Levarski Z, Struhárňanská E, Turňa J, Stuchlík S. Production of Reverse Transcriptase and DNA Polymerase in Bacterial Expression Systems. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:727. [PMID: 39061809 PMCID: PMC11274053 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11070727] [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: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA amplification and reverse transcription enzymes have proven to be invaluable in fast and reliable diagnostics and research applications because of their processivity, specificity, and robustness. Our study focused on the production of mutant Taq DNA polymerase and mutant M-MLV reverse transcriptase in the expression hosts Vibrio natriegens and Escherichia coli under various expression conditions. We also examined nonspecific extracellular production in V. natriegens. Intracellularly, M-MLV was produced in V. natriegens at the level of 11% of the total cell proteins (TCPs) compared with 16% of TCPs in E. coli. We obtained a soluble protein that accounted for 11% of the enzyme produced in V. natriegens and 22% of the enzyme produced in E. coli. Taq pol was produced intracellularly in V. natriegens at the level of 30% of TCPs compared with 26% of TCPs in E. coli. However, Taq pol was almost non-soluble in E. coli, whereas in V. natriegens, we obtained a soluble protein that accounted for 23% of the produced enzyme. We detected substantial extracellular production of Taq pol. Thus, V. natriegens is a suitable alternative host with the potential for production of recombinant proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristína Hriňová
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.H.); (J.D.); (Ľ.K.); (E.S.); (J.T.); (S.S.)
| | - Johana Dlapová
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.H.); (J.D.); (Ľ.K.); (E.S.); (J.T.); (S.S.)
| | - Bohuš Kubala
- Laboratory for Microbial Ecology, Institute of Molecular Biology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská Cesta 21, 84551 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Ľubica Kormanová
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.H.); (J.D.); (Ľ.K.); (E.S.); (J.T.); (S.S.)
| | - Zdenko Levarski
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.H.); (J.D.); (Ľ.K.); (E.S.); (J.T.); (S.S.)
- Science Park, Comenius University in Bratislava, 84104 Bratislava, Slovakia
- ReKoMBe, s.r.o., 84102 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Eva Struhárňanská
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.H.); (J.D.); (Ľ.K.); (E.S.); (J.T.); (S.S.)
- ReKoMBe, s.r.o., 84102 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ján Turňa
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.H.); (J.D.); (Ľ.K.); (E.S.); (J.T.); (S.S.)
- Science Park, Comenius University in Bratislava, 84104 Bratislava, Slovakia
- ReKoMBe, s.r.o., 84102 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Stanislav Stuchlík
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia; (K.H.); (J.D.); (Ľ.K.); (E.S.); (J.T.); (S.S.)
- Science Park, Comenius University in Bratislava, 84104 Bratislava, Slovakia
- ReKoMBe, s.r.o., 84102 Bratislava, Slovakia
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5
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Christi K, Hudson J, Egan S. Current approaches to genetic modification of marine bacteria and considerations for improved transformation efficiency. Microbiol Res 2024; 284:127729. [PMID: 38663232 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Marine bacteria play vital roles in symbiosis, biogeochemical cycles and produce novel bioactive compounds and enzymes of interest for the pharmaceutical, biofuel and biotechnology industries. At present, investigations into marine bacterial functions and their products are primarily based on phenotypic observations, -omic type approaches and heterologous gene expression. To advance our understanding of marine bacteria and harness their full potential for industry application, it is critical that we have the appropriate tools and resources to genetically manipulate them in situ. However, current genetic tools that are largely designed for model organisms such as E. coli, produce low transformation efficiencies or have no transfer ability in marine bacteria. To improve genetic manipulation applications for marine bacteria, we need to improve transformation methods such as conjugation and electroporation in addition to identifying more marine broad host range plasmids. In this review, we aim to outline the reported methods of transformation for marine bacteria and discuss the considerations for each approach in the context of improving efficiency. In addition, we further discuss marine plasmids and future research areas including CRISPR tools and their potential applications for marine bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Christi
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Jennifer Hudson
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Suhelen Egan
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia.
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6
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Zhu X, Luo H, Yu X, Lv H, Su L, Zhang K, Wu J. Genome-Wide CRISPRi Screening of Key Genes for Recombinant Protein Expression in Bacillus Subtilis. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2404313. [PMID: 38952047 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202404313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis is an industrially important microorganism that is often used as a microbial cell factory for the production of recombinant proteins due to its food safety, rapid growth, and powerful secretory capacity. However, the lack of data on functional genes related to recombinant protein production has hindered the further development of B. subtilis cell factories. Here, a strategy combining genome-wide CRISPRi screening and targeted CRISPRa activation to enhance recombinant protein expression is proposed. First, a CRISPRi library covering a total of 4225 coding genes (99.7%) in the B. subtilis genome and built the corresponding high-throughput screening methods is constructed. Twelve key genes for recombinant protein expression are identified, including targets without relevant functional annotations. Meanwhile, the transcription of recombinant protein genes by CRISPRa is up-regulated. These screened or selected genes can be easily applied to metabolic engineering by constructing sgRNA arrays. The relationship between differential pathways and recombinant protein expression in engineered strains by transcriptome analysis is also revealed. High-density fermentation and generalisability validation results prove the reliability of the strategy. This method can be extended to other industrial hosts to support functional gene annotation and the design of novel cell factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuyang Zhu
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, International Joint Laboratory on Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Hui Luo
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, International Joint Laboratory on Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Xinrui Yu
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, International Joint Laboratory on Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Huihui Lv
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, International Joint Laboratory on Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Lingqia Su
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, International Joint Laboratory on Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Kang Zhang
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, International Joint Laboratory on Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Jing Wu
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, International Joint Laboratory on Food Safety, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
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7
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Shin J, Zielinski DC, Palsson BO. Deciphering nutritional stress responses via knowledge-enriched transcriptomics for microbial engineering. Metab Eng 2024; 84:34-47. [PMID: 38825177 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2024.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Understanding diverse bacterial nutritional requirements and responses is foundational in microbial research and biotechnology. In this study, we employed knowledge-enriched transcriptomic analytics to decipher complex stress responses of Vibrio natriegens to supplied nutrients, aiming to enhance microbial engineering efforts. We computed 64 independently modulated gene sets that comprise a quantitative basis for transcriptome dynamics across a comprehensive transcriptomics dataset containing a broad array of nutrient conditions. Our approach led to the i) identification of novel transporter systems for diverse substrates, ii) a detailed understanding of how trace elements affect metabolism and growth, and iii) extensive characterization of nutrient-induced stress responses, including osmotic stress, low glycolytic flux, proteostasis, and altered protein expression. By clarifying the relationship between the acetate-associated regulon and glycolytic flux status of various nutrients, we have showcased its vital role in directing optimal carbon source selection. Our findings offer deep insights into the transcriptional landscape of bacterial nutrition and underscore its significance in tailoring strain engineering strategies, thereby facilitating the development of more efficient and robust microbial systems for biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongoh Shin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Daniel C Zielinski
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Bernhard O Palsson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, 2800, Denmark; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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8
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Rahman ASMZ, Syroegin EA, Novomisky Nechcoff J, Devarajan A, Polikanov YS, Cardona ST. Rationally Designed Pooled CRISPRi-Seq Uncovers an Inhibitor of Bacterial Peptidyl-tRNA Hydrolase. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.02.592284. [PMID: 38979387 PMCID: PMC11230203 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.02.592284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Pooled knockdown libraries of essential genes are useful tools for elucidating the mechanisms of action of antibacterial compounds, a pivotal step in antibiotic discovery. However, achieving genomic coverage of antibacterial targets poses a challenge due to the uneven proliferation of knockdown mutants during pooled growth, leading to the unintended loss of important targets. To overcome this issue, we describe the construction of CIMPLE ( C RISPR i - m ediated p ooled library of e ssential genes), a rationally designed pooled knockdown library built in a model antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Burkholderia cenocepacia. By analyzing growth parameters of clonal knockdown populations of an arrayed CRISPRi library, we predicted strain depletion levels during pooled growth and adjusted mutant relative abundance, approaching genomic coverage of antibacterial targets during antibiotic exposure. We first benchmarked CIMPLE by chemical-genetic profiling of known antibacterials, then applied it to an uncharacterized bacterial growth inhibitor from a new class. CRISPRi-Seq with CIMPLE, followed by biochemical validation, revealed that the novel compound targets the peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase (Pth). Overall, CIMPLE leverages the advantages of arrayed and pooled CRISPRi libraries to uncover unexplored targets for antibiotic action. Summary Bacterial mutant libraries in which antibiotic targets are downregulated are useful tools to functionally characterize novel antimicrobials. These libraries are used for chemical-genetic profiling as target-compound interactions can be inferred by differential fitness of mutants during pooled growth. Mutants that are functionally related to the antimicrobial mode of action are usually depleted from the pool upon exposure to the drug. Although powerful, this method can fail when the unequal proliferation of mutant strains before exposure causes mutants to fall below the detection level in the library pool. To address this issue, we constructed an arrayed essential gene mutant library (EGML) in the antibiotic-resistant bacterium Burkholderia cenocepacia using CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) and analyzed the growth parameters of individual mutant strains. We then modelled depletion levels during pooled growth and used the model to rationally design an optimized CRISPR interference-mediated pooled library of essential genes (CIMPLE). By adjusting the initial inoculum of the knockdown mutants, we achieved coverage of the bacterial essential genome with mutant sensitization. We exposed CIMPLE to a recently discovered antimicrobial of a novel class and discovered it inhibits the peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase, an essential bacterial enzyme. In summary, we demonstrate the utility of CIMPLE and CRISPRi-Seq to uncover the mechanism of action of novel antimicrobial compounds. Graphical abstract
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9
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Ishikawa M, Hori K. The elimination of two restriction enzyme genes allows for electroporation-based transformation and CRISPR-Cas9-based base editing in the non-competent Gram-negative bacterium Acinetobacter sp. Tol 5. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0040024. [PMID: 38722179 PMCID: PMC11218613 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00400-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental isolates are promising candidates for new chassis of synthetic biology because of their inherent capabilities, which include efficiently converting a wide range of substrates into valuable products and resilience to environmental stresses; however, many remain genetically intractable and unamenable to established genetic tools tailored for model bacteria. Acinetobacter sp. Tol 5, an environmentally isolated Gram-negative bacterium, possesses intriguing properties for use in synthetic biology applications. Despite the previous development of genetic tools for the engineering of strain Tol 5, its genetic manipulation has been hindered by low transformation efficiency via electroporation, rendering the process laborious and time-consuming. This study demonstrated the genetic refinement of the Tol 5 strain, achieving efficient transformation via electroporation. We deleted two genes encoding type I and type III restriction enzymes. The resulting mutant strain not only exhibited marked efficiency of electrotransformation but also proved receptive to both in vitro and in vivo DNA assembly technologies, thereby facilitating the construction of recombinant DNA without reliance on intermediate Escherichia coli constructs. In addition, we successfully adapted a CRISPR-Cas9-based base-editing platform developed for other Acinetobacter species. Our findings provide genetic modification strategies that allow for the domestication of environmentally isolated bacteria, streamlining their utilization in synthetic biology applications.IMPORTANCERecent synthetic biology has sought diverse bacterial chassis from environmental sources to circumvent the limitations of laboratory Escherichia coli strains for industrial and environmental applications. One of the critical barriers in cell engineering of bacterial chassis is their inherent resistance to recombinant DNA, propagated either in vitro or within E. coli cells. Environmental bacteria have evolved defense mechanisms against foreign DNA as a response to the constant threat of phage infection. The ubiquity of phages in natural settings accounts for the genetic intractability of environmental isolates. The significance of our research is in demonstrating genetic modification strategies for the cell engineering of such genetically intractable bacteria. This research marks a pivotal step in the domestication of environmentally isolated bacteria, promising candidates for emerging synthetic biology chassis. Our work thus significantly contributes to advancing their applications across industrial, environmental, and biomedical fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahito Ishikawa
- Department of Frontier Bioscience, Faculty of Bioscience, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, Nagahama, Shiga, Japan
- PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan
| | - Katsutoshi Hori
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Nagoya, Japan
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10
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Glasgo LD, Lukasiak KL, Zinser ER. Expanding the capabilities of MuGENT for large-scale genetic engineering of the fastest-replicating species, Vibrio natriegens. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0396423. [PMID: 38667341 PMCID: PMC11237659 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03964-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The fastest replicating bacterium Vibrio natriegens is a rising workhorse for molecular and biotechnological research with established tools for efficient genetic manipulation. Here, we expand on the capabilities of multiplex genome editing by natural transformation (MuGENT) by identifying a neutral insertion site and showing how two selectable markers can be swapped at this site for sequential rounds of natural transformation. Second, we demonstrated that MuGENT can be used for complementation by gene insertion at an ectopic chromosomal locus. Additionally, we developed a robust method to cure the competence plasmid required to induce natural transformation. Finally, we demonstrated the ability of MuGENT to create massive deletions; the 280 kb deletion created in this study is one of the largest artificial deletions constructed in a single round of targeted mutagenesis of a bacterium. These methods each advance the genetic potential of V. natriegens and collectively expand upon its utility as an emerging model organism for synthetic biology. IMPORTANCE Vibrio natriegens is an emerging model organism for molecular and biotechnological applications. Its fast growth, metabolic versatility, and ease of genetic manipulation provide an ideal platform for synthetic biology. Here, we develop and apply novel methods that expand the genetic capabilities of the V. natriegens model system. Prior studies developed a method to manipulate multiple regions of the chromosome in a single step. Here, we provide new resources that diversify the utility of this method. We also provide a technique to remove the required genetic tools from the cell once the manipulation is performed, thus establishing "clean" derivative cells. Finally, we show the full extent of this technique's capability by generating one of the largest chromosomal deletions reported in the literature. Collectively, these new tools will be beneficial broadly to the Vibrio community and specifically to the advancement of V. natriegens as a model system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liz D. Glasgo
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Katie L. Lukasiak
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Erik R. Zinser
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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11
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Ramming L, Stukenberg D, Sánchez Olmos MDC, Glatter T, Becker A, Schindler D. Rationally designed chromosome fusion does not prevent rapid growth of Vibrio natriegens. Commun Biol 2024; 7:519. [PMID: 38698198 PMCID: PMC11066055 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06234-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA replication is essential for the proliferation of all cells. Bacterial chromosomes are replicated bidirectionally from a single origin of replication, with replication proceeding at about 1000 bp per second. For the model organism, Escherichia coli, this translates into a replication time of about 40 min for its 4.6 Mb chromosome. Nevertheless, E. coli can propagate by overlapping replication cycles with a maximum short doubling time of 20 min. The fastest growing bacterium known, Vibrio natriegens, is able to replicate with a generation time of less than 10 min. It has a bipartite genome with chromosome sizes of 3.2 and 1.9 Mb. Is simultaneous replication from two origins a prerequisite for its rapid growth? We fused the two chromosomes of V. natriegens to create a strain carrying one chromosome with a single origin of replication. Compared to the parental, this strain showed no significant deviation in growth rate. This suggests that the split genome is not a prerequisite for rapid growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Ramming
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Stukenberg
- Department of Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Timo Glatter
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Anke Becker
- Department of Biology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Schindler
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany.
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
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12
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Gawlitt S, Collins SP, Yu Y, Blackman SA, Barquist L, Beisel CL. Expanding the flexibility of base editing for high-throughput genetic screens in bacteria. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:4079-4097. [PMID: 38499498 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide screens have become powerful tools for elucidating genotype-to-phenotype relationships in bacteria. Of the varying techniques to achieve knockout and knockdown, CRISPR base editors are emerging as promising options. However, the limited number of available, efficient target sites hampers their use for high-throughput screening. Here, we make multiple advances to enable flexible base editing as part of high-throughput genetic screening in bacteria. We first co-opt the Streptococcus canis Cas9 that exhibits more flexible protospacer-adjacent motif recognition than the traditional Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9. We then expand beyond introducing premature stop codons by mutating start codons. Next, we derive guide design rules by applying machine learning to an essentiality screen conducted in Escherichia coli. Finally, we rescue poorly edited sites by combining base editing with Cas9-induced cleavage of unedited cells, thereby enriching for intended edits. The efficiency of this dual system was validated through a conditional essentiality screen based on growth in minimal media. Overall, expanding the scope of genome-wide knockout screens with base editors could further facilitate the investigation of new gene functions and interactions in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Gawlitt
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Scott P Collins
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Yanying Yu
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Samuel A Blackman
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Lars Barquist
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada
- Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Chase L Beisel
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
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13
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Wang Z, Pan H, Ni S, Li Z, Lian J. Establishing CRISPRi for Programmable Gene Repression and Genome Evolution in Cupriavidus necator. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:851-861. [PMID: 38350870 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00664] [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: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Cupriavidus necator H16 is a "Knallgas" bacterium with the ability to utilize various carbon sources and has been employed as a versatile microbial cell factory to produce a wide range of value-added compounds. However, limited genome engineering, especially gene regulation methods, has constrained its full potential as a microbial production platform. The advent of CRISPR/Cas9 technology has shown promise in addressing this limitation. Here, we developed an optimized CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) system for gene repression in C. necator by expressing a codon-optimized deactivated Cas9 (dCas9) and appropriate single guide RNAs (sgRNAs). CRISPRi was proven to be a programmable and controllable tool and could successfully repress both exogenous and endogenous genes. As a case study, we decreased the accumulation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHB) via CRISPRi and rewired the carbon fluxes to the synthesis of lycopene. Additionally, by disturbing the expression of DNA mismatch repair gene mutS with CRISPRi, we established CRISPRi-Mutator for genome evolution, rapidly generating mutant strains with enhanced hydrogen peroxide tolerance and robustness in microbial electrosynthesis (MES) system. Our work provides an efficient CRISPRi toolkit for advanced genetic manipulation and optimization of C. necator cell factories for diverse biotechnology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Haojie Pan
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Sulin Ni
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Zhongjian Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Jiazhang Lian
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education & National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
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14
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Fuchs H, Ullrich SR, Hedrich S. Vibrio natriegens as a superior host for the production of c-type cytochromes and difficult-to-express redox proteins. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6093. [PMID: 38480761 PMCID: PMC10937671 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54097-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
C-type cytochromes fulfil many essential roles in both aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Their characterization requires large quantities of protein which can be obtained through heterologous production. Heterologous production of c-type cytochromes in Escherichia coli is hindered since the ccmABCDEFGH genes necessary for incorporation of heme c are only expressed under anaerobic conditions. Different strategies were devised to bypass this obstacle, such as co-expressing the ccm genes from the pEC86 vector. However, co-expression methods restrict the choice of expression host and vector. Here we describe the first use of Vibrio natriegens Vmax X2 for the recombinant production of difficult-to-express redox proteins from the extreme acidophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans CCM4253, including three c-type cytochromes. Co-expression of the ccm genes was not required to produce holo-c-type cytochromes in Vmax X2. E. coli T7 Express only produced holo-c-type cytochromes during co-expression of the ccm genes and was not able to produce the inner membrane cytochrome CycA. Additionally, Vmax X2 cell extracts contained higher portions of recombinant holo-proteins than T7 Express cell extracts. All redox proteins were translocated to the intended cell compartment in both hosts. In conclusion, V. natriegens represents a promising alternative for the production of c-type cytochromes and difficult-to-express redox proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Fuchs
- TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Institute of Biosciences, Leipziger Straße 29, 09599, Freiberg, Germany.
| | - Sophie R Ullrich
- TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Institute of Biosciences, Leipziger Straße 29, 09599, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Sabrina Hedrich
- TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Institute of Biosciences, Leipziger Straße 29, 09599, Freiberg, Germany.
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15
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Xu J, Sun Y, Wu J, Yang S, Yang L. Chromosome recombination and modification by LoxP-mediated evolution in Vibrio natriegens using CRISPR-associated transposases. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:1163-1172. [PMID: 38131162 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Chromosome rearrangement by LoxP-mediated evolution has emerged as a powerful approach to studying how chromosome architecture impacts phenotypes. However, it relies on the in vitro synthesis of artificial chromosomes. The recently reported CRISPR-associated transposases (CASTs) held great promise for the efficient insertion of abundant LoxP sites directly onto the genome of wild-type strains. In this study, with the fastest-growing bacterium Vibrio natrigens (V. natriegens) as an object, a multiplex genome integration tool derived from CASTs was employed to achieve the insertion of cargo genes at eight specific genomic loci within 2 days. Next, we introduced 30 LoxP sites onto chromosome 2 (Chr2) of V. natriegens. Rigorously induced Cre recombinase was used to demonstrate Chromosome Rearrangement and Modification by LoxP-mediated Evolution (CRaMbLE). Growth characterization and genome sequencing showed that the ~358 kb fragment on Chr2 was accountable for the rapid growth of V. natriegens. The enabling tools we developed can help identify genomic regions that influence the rapid growth of V. natriegens without a prior understanding of genome mechanisms. This groundbreaking demonstration may also be extended to other organisms such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus subtilis, and so on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Xu
- Institute for Intelligent Bio/Chem Manufacturing, ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Centre, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yijie Sun
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianping Wu
- Institute for Intelligent Bio/Chem Manufacturing, ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Centre, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sheng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lirong Yang
- Institute for Intelligent Bio/Chem Manufacturing, ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Centre, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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16
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Geslewitz WE, Cardenas A, Zhou X, Zhang Y, Criss AK, Seifert HS. Development and implementation of a Type I-C CRISPR-based programmable repression system for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. mBio 2024; 15:e0302523. [PMID: 38126782 PMCID: PMC10865793 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03025-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are prokaryotic adaptive immune systems regularly utilized as DNA-editing tools. While Neisseria gonorrhoeae does not have an endogenous CRISPR, the commensal species Neisseria lactamica encodes a functional Type I-C CRISPR-Cas system. We have established an isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside added (IPTG)-inducible, CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) platform based on the N. lactamica Type I-C CRISPR missing the Cas3 nuclease to allow locus-specific transcriptional repression. As proof of principle, we targeted a non-phase-variable version of the opaD gene. We show that CRISPRi can downregulate opaD gene and protein expression, resulting in bacterial inability to stimulate neutrophil oxidative responses and to bind to an N-terminal fragment of CEACAM1. Importantly, we used CRISPRi to effectively knockdown all the transcripts of all 11 opa genes using a five-spacer CRISPR array, allowing control of the entire phase-variable opa family in strain FA1090. We also report that repression is reversible following IPTG removal. Finally, we showed that the Type I-C CRISPRi system can conditionally reduce the expression of two essential genes. This CRISPRi system will allow the interrogation of every Gc gene, essential and non-essential, to study physiology and pathogenesis and aid in antimicrobial development.IMPORTANCEClustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas systems have proven instrumental in genetically manipulating many eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. Despite its usefulness, a CRISPR system had yet to be developed for use in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gc), a bacterium that is the main etiological agent of gonorrhea infection. Here, we developed a programmable and IPTG-inducible Type I-C CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) system derived from the commensal species Neisseria lactamica as a gene repression system in Gc. As opposed to generating genetic knockouts, the Type I-C CRISPRi system allows us to block transcription of specific genes without generating deletions in the DNA. We explored the properties of this system and found that a minimal spacer array is sufficient for gene repression while also facilitating efficient spacer reprogramming. Importantly, we also show that we can use CRISPRi to knockdown genes that are essential to Gc that cannot normally be knocked out under laboratory settings. Gc encodes ~800 essential genes, many of which have no predicted function. We predict that this Type I-C CRISPRi system can be used to help categorize gene functions and perhaps contribute to the development of novel therapeutics for gonorrhea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy E. Geslewitz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Amaris Cardenas
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Xufei Zhou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Alison K. Criss
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - H Steven Seifert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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17
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Restrepo-Benavides M, Lozano-Arce D, Gonzalez-Garcia LN, Báez-Aguirre F, Ariza-Aranguren G, Faccini D, Zambrano MM, Jiménez P, Fernández-Bravo A, Restrepo S, Guevara-Suarez M. Unveiling potential virulence determinants in Vibrio isolates from Anadara tuberculosa through whole genome analyses. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0292823. [PMID: 38189292 PMCID: PMC10846245 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02928-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The genus Vibrio includes pathogenic bacteria able to cause disease in humans and aquatic organisms, leading to disease outbreaks and significant economic losses in the fishery industry. Despite much work on Vibrio in several marine organisms, no specific studies have been conducted on Anadara tuberculosa. This is a commercially important bivalve species, known as "piangua hembra," along Colombia's Pacific coast. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and characterize the genomes of Vibrio isolates obtained from A. tuberculosa. Bacterial isolates were obtained from 14 A. tuberculosa specimens collected from two locations along the Colombian Pacific coast, of which 17 strains were identified as Vibrio: V. parahaemolyticus (n = 12), V. alginolyticus (n = 3), V. fluvialis (n = 1), and V. natriegens (n = 1). Whole genome sequence of these isolates was done using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT). The analysis revealed the presence of genes conferring resistance to β-lactams, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, and macrolides, indicating potential resistance to these antimicrobial agents. Genes associated with virulence were also found, suggesting the potential pathogenicity of these Vibrio isolates, as well as genes for Type III Secretion Systems (T3SS) and Type VI Secretion Systems (T6SS), which play crucial roles in delivering virulence factors and in interbacterial competition. This study represents the first genomic analysis of bacteria within A. tuberculosa, shedding light on Vibrio genetic factors and contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the pathogenic potential of these Vibrio isolates.IMPORTANCEThis study presents the first comprehensive report on the whole genome analysis of Vibrio isolates obtained from Anadara tuberculosa, a bivalve species of great significance for social and economic matters on the Pacific coast of Colombia. Research findings have significant implications for the field, as they provide crucial information on the genetic factors and possible pathogenicity of Vibrio isolates associated with A. tuberculosa. The identification of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors within these isolates emphasizes the potential risks they pose to both human and animal health. Furthermore, the presence of genes associated with Type III and Type VI Secretion Systems suggests their critical role in virulence and interbacterial competition. Understanding the genetic factors that contribute to Vibrio bacterial virulence and survival strategies within their ecological niche is of utmost importance for the effective prevention and management of diseases in aquaculture practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Restrepo-Benavides
- Applied Genomics Research Group, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Creación, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
- Unit of Microbiology, Department of Basic Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, IISPV, University Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain
| | - Daniela Lozano-Arce
- Applied Genomics Research Group, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Creación, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Laura Natalia Gonzalez-Garcia
- Applied Genomics Research Group, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Creación, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
- Systems and Computing Engineering Department, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
- UMR DIADE, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Felipe Báez-Aguirre
- Applied Genomics Research Group, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Creación, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Gabriela Ariza-Aranguren
- Applied Genomics Research Group, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Creación, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Daniel Faccini
- Applied Genomics Research Group, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Creación, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Pedro Jiménez
- Laboratorio de Fitopatología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Cajicá, Colombia
| | - Ana Fernández-Bravo
- Unit of Microbiology, Department of Basic Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, IISPV, University Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain
| | - Silvia Restrepo
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química y de Alimentos, Laboratorio de Micología y Fitopatología, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marcela Guevara-Suarez
- Applied Genomics Research Group, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Creación, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
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18
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Specht DA, Sheppard TJ, Kennedy F, Li S, Gadikota G, Barstow B. Efficient natural plasmid transformation of Vibrio natriegens enables zero-capital molecular biology. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgad444. [PMID: 38352175 PMCID: PMC10863642 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The fast-growing microbe Vibrio natriegens is capable of natural transformation where it draws DNA in from media via an active process under physiological conditions. Using an engineered strain with a genomic copy of the master competence regulator tfoX from Vibrio cholerae in combination with a new minimal competence media (MCM) that uses acetate as an energy source, we demonstrate naturally competent cells which are created, transformed, and recovered entirely in the same media, without exchange or addition of fresh media. Cells are naturally competent to plasmids, recombination with linear DNA, and cotransformation of both to select for scarless and markerless genomic edits. The entire process is simple and inexpensive, requiring no capital equipment for an entirely room temperature process (zero capital protocol, 104 cfu/μg), or just an incubator (high-efficiency protocol, 105-6 cfu/μg). These cells retain their naturally competent state when frozen and are transformable immediately upon thawing like a typical chemical or electrochemical competent cell. Since the optimized transformation protocol requires only 50 min of hands-on time, and V. natriegens grows quickly even on plates, a transformation started at 9 AM yields abundant culturable single colonies by 5 PM. Further, because all stages of transformation occur in the same media, and the process can be arbitrarily scaled in volume, this natural competence strain and media could be ideal for automated directed evolution applications. As a result, naturally competent V. natriegens could compete with Escherichia coli as an excellent chassis for low-cost and highly scalable synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Specht
- Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Timothy J Sheppard
- Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Finn Kennedy
- Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Sijin Li
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Greeshma Gadikota
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Buz Barstow
- Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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19
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Bales MK, Vergara MM, Eckert CA. Application of functional genomics for domestication of novel non-model microbes. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 51:kuae022. [PMID: 38925657 PMCID: PMC11247347 DOI: 10.1093/jimb/kuae022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
With the expansion of domesticated microbes producing biomaterials and chemicals to support a growing circular bioeconomy, the variety of waste and sustainable substrates that can support microbial growth and production will also continue to expand. The diversity of these microbes also requires a range of compatible genetic tools to engineer improved robustness and economic viability. As we still do not fully understand the function of many genes in even highly studied model microbes, engineering improved microbial performance requires introducing genome-scale genetic modifications followed by screening or selecting mutants that enhance growth under prohibitive conditions encountered during production. These approaches include adaptive laboratory evolution, random or directed mutagenesis, transposon-mediated gene disruption, or CRISPR interference (CRISPRi). Although any of these approaches may be applicable for identifying engineering targets, here we focus on using CRISPRi to reduce the time required to engineer more robust microbes for industrial applications. ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY The development of genome scale CRISPR-based libraries in new microbes enables discovery of genetic factors linked to desired traits for engineering more robust microbial systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret K Bales
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
- Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Michael Melesse Vergara
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Carrie A Eckert
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
- Center for Bioenergy Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
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20
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Li J, Wu S, Zhang K, Sun X, Lin W, Wang C, Lin S. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat/CRISPR-Associated Protein and Its Utility All at Sea: Status, Challenges, and Prospects. Microorganisms 2024; 12:118. [PMID: 38257946 PMCID: PMC10820777 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010118] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Initially discovered over 35 years ago in the bacterium Escherichia coli as a defense system against invasion of viral (or other exogenous) DNA into the genome, CRISPR/Cas has ushered in a new era of functional genetics and served as a versatile genetic tool in all branches of life science. CRISPR/Cas has revolutionized the methodology of gene knockout with simplicity and rapidity, but it is also powerful for gene knock-in and gene modification. In the field of marine biology and ecology, this tool has been instrumental in the functional characterization of 'dark' genes and the documentation of the functional differentiation of gene paralogs. Powerful as it is, challenges exist that have hindered the advances in functional genetics in some important lineages. This review examines the status of applications of CRISPR/Cas in marine research and assesses the prospect of quickly expanding the deployment of this powerful tool to address the myriad fundamental marine biology and biological oceanography questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiashun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Shuaishuai Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Kaidian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Hainan University, Haikou 570203, China
| | - Xueqiong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Wenwen Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Cong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Senjie Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT 06340, USA
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21
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Xu T, Mitra R, Tan D, Li Z, Zhou C, Chen T, Xie Z, Han J. Utilization of gene manipulation system for advancing the biotechnological potential of halophiles: A review. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 70:108302. [PMID: 38101552 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Halophiles are salt-loving microorganisms known to have their natural resistance against media contamination even when cultivated in nonsterile and continuous bioprocess system, thus acting as promising cell factories for Next Generation of Industrial Biotechnology (NGIB). NGIB - a successor to the traditional industrial biotechnology, is a more sustainable and efficient bioprocess technology while saving energy and water in a more convenient way as well as reducing the investment cost and skilled workforce requirement. Numerous studies have achieved intriguing outcomes during synthesis of different metabolite using halophiles such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), ectoine, biosurfactants, and carotenoids. Present-day development in genetic maneuverings have shown optimistic effects on the industrial applications of halophiles. However, viable and competent genetic manipulation system and gene editing tools are critical to accelerate the process of halophile engineering. With the aid of such powerful gene manipulation systems, exclusive microbial chassis are being crafted with desirable features to breed another innovative area of research such as synthetic biology. This review provides an aerial perspective on how the expansion of adaptable gene manipulation toolkits in halophiles are contributing towards biotechnological advancement, and also focusses on their subsequent application for production improvement. This current methodical and comprehensive review will definitely help the scientific fraternity to bridge the gap between challenges and opportunities in halophile engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruchira Mitra
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China; International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Tan
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengjun Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China; College of Biochemical Engineering, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100023, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Chen
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengwei Xie
- Peking University International Cancer Institute, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Han
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China; College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China.
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22
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Prezza G, Westermann AJ. CRISPR Interference-Based Functional Small RNA Genomics. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2741:101-116. [PMID: 38217650 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3565-0_6] [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: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Small RNAs (sRNAs) are versatile regulators universally present in species across the prokaryotic kingdom, yet their functional characterization remains a major bottleneck. Gene inactivation through random transposon insertion has proven extremely valuable in discovering hidden gene functions. However, this approach is biased toward long genes and usually results in the underrepresentation of sRNA mutants. In contrast, CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) harnesses guide RNAs to recruit cleavage-deficient Cas nucleases to specific DNA loci. The ensuing steric hindrance inhibits RNA polymerase assembly at-or migration along-predefined genes, allowing for targeted knockdown screens without major length bias. In this chapter, we provide a detailed protocol for CRISPRi-based functional screening of bacterial sRNAs. Using the abundant microbiota species Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron as a model, we describe the design and generation of a guide library targeting the full intergenic sRNA repertoire of this organism and its application to identify sRNA knockdown-associated fitness effects. Our protocol is generic and thus suitable for the systematic assessment of sRNA-associated phenotypes in a wide range of bacterial species and experimental conditions. We expect CRISPRi-based functional genomics to boost sRNA research in understudied bacterial taxa, for instance, members of the gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Prezza
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexander J Westermann
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany.
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
- Department of Microbiology, Biocentre, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
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23
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Medin S, Dressel A, Specht DA, Sheppard TJ, Holycross ME, Reid MC, Gazel E, Wu M, Barstow B. Multiple Rounds of In Vivo Random Mutagenesis and Selection in Vibrio natriegens Result in Substantial Increases in REE Binding Capacity. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:3680-3694. [PMID: 38055772 PMCID: PMC10729037 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REE) are essential ingredients in many modern technologies, yet their purification remains either environmentally harmful or economically unviable. Adsorption, or biosorption, of REE onto bacterial cell membranes offers a sustainable alternative to traditional solvent extraction methods. But in order for biosorption-based REE purification to compete economically, the capacity and specificity of biosorption sites must be enhanced. Although there have been some recent advances in characterizing the genetics of REE-biosorption, the variety and complexity of bacterial membrane surface sites make targeted genetic engineering difficult. Here, we propose using multiple rounds of in vivo random mutagenesis induced by the MP6 plasmid combined with plate-throughput REE-biosorption screening to improve a microbe's capacity and selectivity for biosorbing REE. We engineered a strain of Vibrio natriegens capable of biosorbing 210% more dysprosium compared to the wild-type and produced selectivity improvements of up to 50% between the lightest (lanthanum) and heaviest (lutetium) REE. We believe that mutations we observed in ABC transporters as well as a nonessential protein in the BAM outer membrane β-barrel protein insertion complex likely contribute to some─but almost certainly not all─of the biosorption changes we observed. Given the ease of finding significant biosorption mutants, these results highlight just how many genes likely contribute to biosorption as well as the power of random mutagenesis in identifying genes of interest and optimizing a biological system for a task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Medin
- Department
of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Anastacia Dressel
- Department
of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - David A. Specht
- Department
of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Timothy J. Sheppard
- Department
of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Megan E. Holycross
- Department
of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Matthew C. Reid
- School
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Esteban Gazel
- Department
of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Mingming Wu
- Department
of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Buz Barstow
- Department
of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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24
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Biener R, Horn T, Komitakis A, Schendel I, König L, Hauenstein A, Ludl A, Speidel A, Schmid S, Weißer J, Broßmann M, Kern S, Kronmüller M, Vierkorn S, Suckow L, Braun A. High-cell-density cultivation of Vibrio natriegens in a low-chloride chemically defined medium. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:7043-7054. [PMID: 37741940 PMCID: PMC10638117 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12799-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Vibrio natriegens is a halophilic bacterium with the fastest generation time of non-pathogenic bacteria reported so far. It therefore has high potential as a production strain for biotechnological production processes or other applications in biotechnology. Culture media for V. natriegens typically contain high sodium chloride concentrations. The corresponding high chloride concentrations can lead to corrosion processes on metal surfaces in bioreactors. Here we report the development of a low-chloride chemically defined medium for V. natriegens. Sodium chloride was completely replaced by the sodium salts disodium hydrogen phosphate, disodium sulfate, and sodium citrate, while keeping the total concentration of sodium ions constant. The use of citrate prevents the occurrence of precipitates, especially of ammonium magnesium phosphate. With this defined medium, high-cell-density fed-batch cultivations in laboratory-scale bioreactors using exponential feeding yielded biomass concentrations of more than 60 g L-1. KEY POINTS: A defined medium for V. natriegens that only contains traces of chloride was developed Corrosion processes on metal surfaces in industrial bioreactors can thus be prevented High yields of biomass can be achieved in fed-batch cultivation with this medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Biener
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany.
| | - Thomas Horn
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Komitakis
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Ines Schendel
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Leon König
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Anna Hauenstein
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Alina Ludl
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Speidel
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Svenja Schmid
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Julian Weißer
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Max Broßmann
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Sofia Kern
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Max Kronmüller
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Sonja Vierkorn
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Lennart Suckow
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany
| | - Arthur Braun
- Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, University of Applied Sciences Esslingen, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany
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25
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Tian J, Deng W, Zhang Z, Xu J, Yang G, Zhao G, Yang S, Jiang W, Gu Y. Discovery and remodeling of Vibrio natriegens as a microbial platform for efficient formic acid biorefinery. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7758. [PMID: 38012202 PMCID: PMC10682008 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43631-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Formic acid (FA) has emerged as a promising one-carbon feedstock for biorefinery. However, developing efficient microbial hosts for economically competitive FA utilization remains a grand challenge. Here, we discover that the bacterium Vibrio natriegens has exceptional FA tolerance and metabolic capacity natively. This bacterium is remodeled by rewiring the serine cycle and the TCA cycle, resulting in a non-native closed loop (S-TCA) which as a powerful metabolic sink, in combination with laboratory evolution, enables rapid emergence of synthetic strains with significantly improved FA-utilizing ability. Further introduction of a foreign indigoidine-forming pathway into the synthetic V. natriegens strain leads to the production of 29.0 g · L-1 indigoidine and consumption of 165.3 g · L-1 formate within 72 h, achieving a formate consumption rate of 2.3 g · L-1 · h-1. This work provides an important microbial chassis as well as design rules to develop industrially viable microorganisms for FA biorefinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinzhong Tian
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Xianghu Laboratory, Hangzhou, 311231, China.
| | - Wangshuying Deng
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ziwen Zhang
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Xu
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou, 311215, China
| | | | - Guoping Zhao
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Sheng Yang
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Weihong Jiang
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Yang Gu
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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26
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Li HH, Wu J, Liu JQ, Wu QZ, He RL, Cheng ZH, Lv JL, Lin WQ, Wu J, Liu DF, Li WW. Nonsterilized Fermentation of Crude Glycerol for Polyhydroxybutyrate Production by Metabolically Engineered Vibrio natriegens. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:3454-3462. [PMID: 37856147 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00498] [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: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is an attractive biodegradable polymer that can be produced through the microbial fermentation of organic wastes or wastewater. However, its mass production has been restricted by the poor utilization of organic wastes due to the presence of inhibitory substances, slow microbial growth, and high energy input required for feedstock sterilization. Here, Vibrio natriegens, a fast-growing bacterium with a broad substrate spectrum and high tolerance to salt and toxic substances, was genetically engineered to enable efficient PHB production from nonsterilized fermentation of organic wastes. The key genes encoding the PHB biosynthesis pathway of V. natriegens were identified through base editing and overexpressed. The metabolically engineered strain showed 166-fold higher PHB content (34.95 wt %) than the wide type when using glycerol as a substrate. Enhanced PHB production was also achieved when other sugars were used as feedstock. Importantly, it outperformed the engineered Escherichia coli MG1655 in PHB productivity (0.053 g/L/h) and tolerance to toxic substances in crude glycerol, without obvious activity decline under nonsterilized fermentation conditions. Our work demonstrates the great potential of engineered V. natriegens for low-cost PHB bioproduction and lays a foundation for exploiting this strain as a next-generation model chassis microorganism in synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Hui Li
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jie Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Jia-Qi Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Qi-Zhong Wu
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ru Li He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zhou-Hua Cheng
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Jun-Lu Lv
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Wei-Qiang Lin
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Dong-Feng Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Institute of Advanced Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230088, China
| | - Wen-Wei Li
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215123, China
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27
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Volke DC, Orsi E, Nikel PI. Emergent CRISPR-Cas-based technologies for engineering non-model bacteria. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 75:102353. [PMID: 37413959 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas) technologies brought a transformative change in the way bacterial genomes are edited, and a plethora of studies contributed to developing multiple tools based on these approaches. Prokaryotic biotechnology benefited from the implementation of such genome engineering strategies, with an increasing number of non-model bacterial species becoming genetically tractable. In this review, we summarize the recent trends in engineering non-model microbes using CRISPR-Cas technologies, discussing their potential in supporting cell factory design towards biotechnological applications. These efforts include, among other examples, genome modifications as well as tunable transcriptional regulation (both positive and negative). Moreover, we examine how CRISPR-Cas toolkits for engineering non-model organisms enabled the exploitation of emergent biotechnological processes (e.g. native and synthetic assimilation of one-carbon substrates). Finally, we discuss our slant on the future of bacterial genome engineering for domesticating non-model organisms in light of the most recent advances in the ever-expanding CRISPR-Cas field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Volke
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Enrico Orsi
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Pablo I Nikel
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
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28
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Zhu M, Wang Q, Mu H, Han F, Wang Y, Dai X. A fitness trade-off between growth and survival governed by Spo0A-mediated proteome allocation constraints in Bacillus subtilis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg9733. [PMID: 37756393 PMCID: PMC10530083 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg9733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Growth and survival are key determinants of bacterial fitness. However, how resource allocation of bacteria could reconcile these two traits to maximize fitness remains poorly understood. Here, we find that the resource allocation strategy of Bacillus subtilis does not lead to growth maximization on various carbon sources. Survival-related pathways impose strong proteome constraints on B. subtilis. Knockout of a master regulator gene, spo0A, triggers a global resource reallocation from survival-related pathways to biosynthesis pathways, further strongly stimulating the growth of B. subtilis. However, the fitness of spo0A-null strain is severely compromised because of various disadvantageous phenotypes (e.g., abolished sporulation and enhanced cell lysis). In particular, it also exhibits a strong defect in peptide utilization, being unable to efficiently recycle nutrients from the lysed cell debris to maintain long-term viability. Our work uncovers a fitness trade-off between growth and survival that governed by Spo0A-mediated proteome allocation constraints in B. subtilis, further shedding light on the fundamental design principle of bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Fei Han
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei province, China
| | - Yanling Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei province, China
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29
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Smith AD, Tschirhart T, Compton J, Hennessa TM, VanArsdale E, Wang Z. Rapid, high-titer biosynthesis of melanin using the marine bacterium Vibrio natriegens. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1239756. [PMID: 37781538 PMCID: PMC10534004 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1239756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanin is one of the most abundant natural biomolecules on Earth. These macromolecular biopolymers display several unique physical and chemical properties and have garnered interest as biomaterials for various commercial and industrial applications. To this end, extensive research has gone into refining methods for the synthesis and extraction of melanin from natural and recombinant sources. In this study, we developed and refined a procedure using a recombinant microbial system for the biosynthesis of melanin using the tyrosinase enzyme Tyr1 and tyrosine as a substrate. Using the emergent microbial chassis organisms Vibrio natriegens, we achieved maximal yields of 7.57 g/L, and one of the highest reported volumetric productivities of 473 mg L-1 h-1 with 100% conversion rates in an optimized, minimally defined medium. Additionally, we identified and investigated the use of a native copper responsive promoter in V. natriegens for stringent regulation of heterologous protein expression as a cost effective alternative to traditional IPTG-based induction. This research represents a promising advancement towards a green, rapid, and economical alternative for the biomanufacture of melanin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron D. Smith
- United States Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, United States
- College of Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
| | - Tanya Tschirhart
- United States Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Jaimee Compton
- United States Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Tiffany M. Hennessa
- American Society for Engineering Education Postdoctoral Research Associate, United States Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Eric VanArsdale
- National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate, United States Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Zheng Wang
- United States Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, United States
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30
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Wu F, Wang S, Peng Y, Guo Y, Wang Q. Metabolic engineering of fast-growing Vibrio natriegens for efficient pyruvate production. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:172. [PMID: 37667234 PMCID: PMC10476420 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02185-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pyruvate is a widely used value-added chemical which also serves as a hub of various metabolic pathways. The fastest-growing bacterium Vibrio natriegens is a promising chassis for synthetic biology applications with high substrate uptake rates. The aim of this study was to investigate if the high substrate uptake rates of V. natriegens enable pyruvate production at high productivities. RESULTS Two prophage gene clusters and several essential genes for the biosynthesis of byproducts were first deleted. In order to promote pyruvate accumulation, the key gene aceE encoding pyruvate dehydrogenase complex E1 component was down-regulated to reduce the carbon flux into the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Afterwards, the expression of ppc gene encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase was fine-tuned to balance the cell growth and pyruvate synthesis. The resulting strain PYR32 was able to produce 54.22 g/L pyruvate from glucose within 16 h, with a yield of 1.17 mol/mol and an average productivity of 3.39 g/L/h. In addition, this strain was also able to efficiently convert sucrose or gluconate into pyruvate at high titers. CONCLUSION A novel strain of V. natriegens was engineered which was capable to provide higher productivity in pyruvate synthesis. This study lays the foundation for the biosynthesis of pyruvate and its derivatives in fast-growing V. natriegens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengli Wu
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China.
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China.
| | - Shucai Wang
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Yanfeng Peng
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Yufeng Guo
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Qinhong Wang
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China.
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China.
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31
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Brück P, Wasser D, Soppa J. Ploidy in Vibrio natriegens: Very Dynamic and Rapidly Changing Copy Numbers of Both Chromosomes. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1437. [PMID: 37510340 PMCID: PMC10379091 DOI: 10.3390/genes14071437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio natriegens is the fastest-growing bacterium, with a doubling time of approximately 12-14 min. It has a high potential for basic research and biotechnological applications, e.g., it can be used for the cell-free production of (labeled) heterologous proteins, for synthetic biological applications, and for the production of various compounds. However, the ploidy level in V. natriegens remains unknown. At nine time points throughout the growth curve, we analyzed the numbers of origins and termini of both chromosomes with qPCR and the relative abundances of all genomic sites with marker frequency analyses. During the lag phase until early exponential growth, the origin copy number and origin/terminus ratio of chromosome 1 increased severalfold, but the increase was lower for chromosome 2. This increase was paralleled by an increase in cell volume. During the exponential phase, the origin/terminus ratio and cell volume decreased again. This highly dynamic and fast regulation has not yet been described for any other species. In this study, the gene dosage increase in origin-adjacent genes during the lag phase is discussed together with the nonrandom distribution of genes on the chromosomes of V. natriegens. Taken together, the results of this study provide the first comprehensive overview of the chromosome dynamics in V. natriegens and will guide the optimization of molecular biological characterization and biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrik Brück
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Daniel Wasser
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jörg Soppa
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, D-60438 Frankfurt, Germany
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32
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Shin J, Rychel K, Palsson BO. Systems biology of competency in Vibrio natriegens is revealed by applying novel data analytics to the transcriptome. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112619. [PMID: 37285268 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio natriegens regulates natural competence through the TfoX and QstR transcription factors, which are involved in external DNA capture and transport. However, the extensive genetic and transcriptional regulatory basis for competency remains unknown. We used a machine-learning approach to decompose Vibrio natriegens's transcriptome into 45 groups of independently modulated sets of genes (iModulons). Our findings show that competency is associated with the repression of two housekeeping iModulons (iron metabolism and translation) and the activation of six iModulons; including TfoX and QstR, a novel iModulon of unknown function, and three housekeeping iModulons (representing motility, polycations, and reactive oxygen species [ROS] responses). Phenotypic screening of 83 gene deletion strains demonstrates that loss of iModulon function reduces or eliminates competency. This database-iModulon-discovery cycle unveils the transcriptomic basis for competency and its relationship to housekeeping functions. These results provide the genetic basis for systems biology of competency in this organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongoh Shin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kevin Rychel
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Bernhard O Palsson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Alejaldre L, Anhel AM, Goñi-Moreno Á. pBLAM1-x: standardized transposon tools for high-throughput screening. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2023; 8:ysad012. [PMID: 37388964 PMCID: PMC10306358 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysad012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The engineering of pre-defined functions in living cells requires increasingly accurate tools as synthetic biology efforts become more ambitious. Moreover, the characterization of the phenotypic performance of genetic constructs demands meticulous measurements and extensive data acquisition for the sake of feeding mathematical models and matching predictions along the design-build-test lifecycle. Here, we developed a genetic tool that eases high-throughput transposon insertion sequencing (TnSeq): the pBLAM1-x plasmid vectors carrying the Himar1 Mariner transposase system. These plasmids were derived from the mini-Tn5 transposon vector pBAMD1-2 and built following modular criteria of the Standard European Vector Architecture (SEVA) format. To showcase their function, we analyzed sequencing results of 60 clones of the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida KT2440. The new pBLAM1-x tool has already been included in the latest SEVA database release, and here we describe its performance using laboratory automation workflows. Graphical Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorea Alejaldre
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)—Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA/CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana-Mariya Anhel
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)—Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA/CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel Goñi-Moreno
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)—Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA/CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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Wang S, Wang B, You X, Du L. Transcriptomic responses of the fast-growing bacterium Vibrio natriegens during cold-induced loss of culturability. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:3009-3019. [PMID: 36964197 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12487-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
Vibrio natriegens has massive biotechnological potential owing to its fast growth rate. However, this bacterium rapidly loses its culturability during low-temperature preservation (LTP), the reason for which is still unknown. To reveal the metabolic responses of V. natriegens during LTP, we analyzed and compared the transcriptome before and after 8 days of preservation at 4 or 25 °C (room-temperature preservation (RTP)) in liquid culture medium. Most genes exhibited significant transcriptional responses to LTP. Using gene set enrichment analysis, we compared the transcriptional responses of different V. natriegens Gene Ontology (GO) sets during LTP or RTP. The enrichment of the GO set "SOS response" during LTP, but not RTP, indicated the occurrence of DNA damage during LTP. The GO set "respiratory electron transport chain" was suppressed during LTP and RTP. Although the GO set "response to oxidative stress" was not significantly altered, we observed an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) during LTP, suggesting a relationship between ROS and cold-induced loss of culturability (CILC) in V. natriegens. The faster loss of culturability and accumulation of ROS in 20 mL compared to 100 mL of liquid culture medium further suggested a relationship between CILC and oxygen availability. Furthermore, we showed that the deletion of Na+-translocating NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase, but not type-II NADH dehydrogenase, accelerated CILC and increased intracellular ROS levels in V. natriegens. These findings will help to understand the cause of CILC which may lead to improving the stability of V. natriegens at low temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Wang
- Department of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Wenzhou Vocational College of Science and Technology (Wenzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences), Wenzhou, 325006, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
| | - Bing Wang
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinxin You
- Department of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Wenzhou Vocational College of Science and Technology (Wenzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences), Wenzhou, 325006, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Linna Du
- College of Advanced Materials Engineering, Jiaxing Nanhu University, Jiaxing, 314001, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
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Coppens L, Tschirhart T, Leary DH, Colston SM, Compton JR, Hervey WJ, Dana KL, Vora GJ, Bordel S, Ledesma-Amaro R. Vibrio natriegens genome-scale modeling reveals insights into halophilic adaptations and resource allocation. Mol Syst Biol 2023; 19:e10523. [PMID: 36847213 PMCID: PMC10090949 DOI: 10.15252/msb.202110523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio natriegens is a Gram-negative bacterium with an exceptional growth rate that has the potential to become a standard biotechnological host for laboratory and industrial bioproduction. Despite this burgeoning interest, the current lack of organism-specific qualitative and quantitative computational tools has hampered the community's ability to rationally engineer this bacterium. In this study, we present the first genome-scale metabolic model (GSMM) of V. natriegens. The GSMM (iLC858) was developed using an automated draft assembly and extensive manual curation and was validated by comparing predicted yields, central metabolic fluxes, viable carbon substrates, and essential genes with empirical data. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics data confirmed the translation of at least 76% of the enzyme-encoding genes predicted to be expressed by the model during aerobic growth in a minimal medium. iLC858 was subsequently used to carry out a metabolic comparison between the model organism Escherichia coli and V. natriegens, leading to an analysis of the model architecture of V. natriegens' respiratory and ATP-generating system and the discovery of a role for a sodium-dependent oxaloacetate decarboxylase pump. The proteomics data were further used to investigate additional halophilic adaptations of V. natriegens. Finally, iLC858 was utilized to create a Resource Balance Analysis model to study the allocation of carbon resources. Taken together, the models presented provide useful computational tools to guide metabolic engineering efforts in V. natriegens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Coppens
- Department of Bioengineering and Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Tanya Tschirhart
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Dagmar H Leary
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sophie M Colston
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jaimee R Compton
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, USA
| | - William Judson Hervey
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Gary J Vora
- US Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sergio Bordel
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro
- Department of Bioengineering and Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Sun Y, Xu J, Zhou H, Zhang H, Wu J, Yang L. Recombinant Protein Expression Chassis Library of Vibrio natriegens by Fine-Tuning the Expression of T7 RNA Polymerase. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:555-564. [PMID: 36719178 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Vibrio natriegens is the fastest-growing bacteria, and its doubling time is less than 10 min. At present, the T7 expression system has been introduced into V. natriegens for heterologous protein expression, including the commercial strain Vmax1 and the variant VnDX,2 which is a backup expression chassis of Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). However, the strength of the existing T7 expression system is not optimal for every recombinant protein. The different expression strengths of T7 RNA polymerase (T7 RNAP) can be obtained by changing the promoter and ribosome binding site (RBS) sequences of T7 RNAP at different transcription and translation levels. In this work, we obtained a robust VnDX variant library with the fine-tuning T7 RNAP using the industrially used enzyme glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) as the reporter protein. Among this library, the variant VnDX-tet, whose promoter of T7 RNAP was changed from PlacUV5 to Ptet, showed that the reporter enzyme GDH activity was increased by 109% by the T7 expression system. Similarly, variants with different T7 RNAP translation levels were obtained by changing RBS sequences upstream of T7 RNAP, and the results showed that the variant VnDX-RBS12/pGDH had the highest GDH activity, which increased by 12.6%. The VnDX variant library constructed in this study with different T7 expression strengths provides a choice for expressing various recombinant proteins, greatly expanding the application of V. natriegens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijie Sun
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311200, China
| | - Jiaqi Xu
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311200, China
| | - Haisheng Zhou
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311200, China
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jianping Wu
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311200, China
| | - Lirong Yang
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311200, China
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Gong Z, Xie R, Zhang Y, Wang M, Tan T. Identification of Emerging Industrial Biotechnology Chassis Vibrio natriegens as a Novel High Salt-Tolerant and Feedstock Flexibility Electroactive Microorganism for Microbial Fuel Cell. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020490. [PMID: 36838454 PMCID: PMC9961702 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of MFC using electroactive industrial microorganisms has seen a surge of interest because of the co-generation for bioproduct and electricity production. Vibrio natriegens as a promising next-generation industrial microorganism chassis and its application for microbial fuel cells (MFC) was first studied. Mediated electron transfer was found in V. natriegens MFC (VMFC), but V. natriegens cannot secrete sufficient electron mediators to transfer electrons to the anode. All seven electron mediators supplemented are capable of improving the electronic transfer efficiency of VMFC. The media and carbon sources switching study reveals that VMFCs have excellent bioelectricity generation performance with feedstock flexibility and high salt-tolerance. Among them, 1% glycerol as the sole carbon source produced the highest power density of 111.9 ± 6.7 mW/cm2. The insight of the endogenous electronic mediators found that phenazine-1-carboxamide, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid, and 1-hydroxyphenazine are synthesized by V. natriegens via the shikimate pathway and the phenazine synthesis and modification pathways. This work provides the first proof for emerging industrial biotechnology chassis V. natriegens as a novel high salt-tolerant and feedstock flexibility electroactive microorganism for MFC, and giving insight into the endogenous electron mediator biosynthesis of VMFC, paving the way for the application of V. natriegens in MFC and even microbial electrofermentation (EF).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijin Gong
- National Energy R&D Center for Biorefinery, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Rong Xie
- National Energy R&D Center for Biorefinery, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- National Energy R&D Center for Biorefinery, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Meng Wang
- National Energy R&D Center for Biorefinery, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Tianwei Tan
- National Energy R&D Center for Biorefinery, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioprocess, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Correspondence:
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Li HF, Tian L, Lian G, Fan LH, Li ZJ. Engineering Vibrio alginolyticus as a novel chassis for PHB production from starch. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1130368. [PMID: 36824353 PMCID: PMC9941669 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1130368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio alginolyticus LHF01 was engineered to efficiently produce poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) from starch in this study. Firstly, the ability of Vibrio alginolyticus LHF01 to directly accumulate PHB using soluble starch as the carbon source was explored, and the highest PHB titer of 2.06 g/L was obtained in 18 h shake flask cultivation. Then, with the analysis of genomic information of V. alginolyticus LHF01, the PHB synthesis operon and amylase genes were identified. Subsequently, the effects of overexpressing PHB synthesis operon and amylase on PHB production were studied. Especially, with the co-expression of PHB synthesis operon and amylase, the starch consumption rate was improved and the PHB titer was more than doubled. The addition of 20 g/L insoluble corn starch could be exhausted in 6-7 h cultivation, and the PHB titer was 4.32 g/L. To the best of our knowledge, V. alginolyticus was firstly engineered to produce PHB with the direct utilization of starch, and this stain can be considered as a novel host to produce PHB using starch as the raw material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Fei Li
- College of Chemical Engineering, Fujian Engineering Research Center of Advanced Manufacturing Technology for Fine Chemicals, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China,College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China,Qingyuan Innovation Laboratory, Quanzhou, China
| | - Linyue Tian
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Guoli Lian
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Li-Hai Fan
- College of Chemical Engineering, Fujian Engineering Research Center of Advanced Manufacturing Technology for Fine Chemicals, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China,Qingyuan Innovation Laboratory, Quanzhou, China,*Correspondence: Li-Hai Fan, ; Zheng-Jun Li,
| | - Zheng-Jun Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Li-Hai Fan, ; Zheng-Jun Li,
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Cre/ lox-Mediated CRISPRi Library Reveals Core Genome of a Type I Methanotroph Methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0188322. [PMID: 36622175 PMCID: PMC9888281 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01883-22] [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: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Methanotrophs play key roles in global methane cycling and are promising platforms for methane bioconversion. However, major gaps existing in fundamental knowledge undermines understanding of these methane-consuming microorganisms. To associate genes with a phenotype at the genome-wide level, we developed a Cre/lox-mediated method for constructing a large-scale CRISPRi library in a model methanotroph Methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C. The efficiency of this Cre mediated integration method was up to a level of 105 CFU/μg DNA. Targeting 4,100 predicted protein-coding genes, our CRISPRi pooled screening uncovered 788 core genes for the growth of strain 5GB1C using methane. The core genes are highly consistent with the gene knockout results, indicating the reliability of the CRISPRi screen. Insights from the core genes include that annotated isozymes generally exist in metabolic pathways and many core genes are hypothetical genes. This work not only provides functional genomic data for both fundamental research and metabolic engineering of methanotrophs, but also offers a method for CRISPRi library construction. IMPORTANCE Due to their key role in methane cycling and their industrial potential, methanotrophs have drawn increasing attention. Genome-wide experimental approaches for gene-phenotype mapping accelerate our understanding and engineering of a bacterium. However, these approaches are still unavailable in methanotrophs. This work has two significant implications. First, the core genes identified here provide functional genetic basics for complete reconstruction of the metabolic network and afford more clues for knowledge gaps. Second, the Cre-mediated knock-in method developed in this work enables large-scale DNA library construction in methanotrophs; the CRISPRi library can be used to screen the genes associated with special culture conditions.
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Zhu M, Dai X. Stringent response ensures the timely adaptation of bacterial growth to nutrient downshift. Nat Commun 2023; 14:467. [PMID: 36709335 PMCID: PMC9884231 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36254-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Timely adaptation to nutrient downshift is crucial for bacteria to maintain fitness during feast and famine cycle in the natural niche. However, the molecular mechanism that ensures the timely adaption of bacterial growth to nutrient downshift remains poorly understood. Here, we quantitatively investigated the adaptation of Escherichia coli to various kinds of nutrient downshift. We found that relA deficient strain, which is devoid of stringent response, exhibits a significantly longer growth lag than wild type strain during adapting to both amino acid downshift and carbon downshift. Quantitative proteomics show that increased (p)ppGpp level promotes the growth adaption of bacteria to amino acid downshift via triggering the proteome resource re-allocation from ribosome synthesis to amino acid biosynthesis. Such type of proteome re-allocation is significantly delayed in the relA-deficient strain, which underlies its longer lag than wild type strain during amino acid downshift. During carbon downshift, a lack of stringent response in relA deficient strain leads to disruption of the transcription-translation coordination, thus compromising the transcription processivity and further the timely expression of related catabolic operons for utilizing secondary carbon sources. Our studies shed light on the fundamental strategy of bacteria to maintain fitness under nutrient-fluctuating environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manlu Zhu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
| | - Xiongfeng Dai
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
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41
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Zhang Y, Liu D, Chen Z. Genome-Scale Modeling and Systems Metabolic Engineering of Vibrio natriegens for the Production of 1,3-Propanediol. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2553:209-220. [PMID: 36227546 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2617-7_11] [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: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The fastest-growing bacterium Vibrio natriegens is a highly promising next-generation workhorse for molecular biology and industrial biotechnology. In this work, we described the workflows for developing genome-scale metabolic models and genome-editing protocols for engineering Vibrio natriegens. A case study for metabolic engineering of Vibrio natriegens for the production of 1,3-propanediol was also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Industrial Biocatalysis (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Dehua Liu
- Key Laboratory for Industrial Biocatalysis (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua Innovation Center in Dongguan, Dongguan, China
- Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen Chen
- Key Laboratory for Industrial Biocatalysis (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Tsinghua Innovation Center in Dongguan, Dongguan, China.
- Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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Yu X, Li S, Feng H, Liao X, Xing XH, Bai Z, Liu X, Zhang C. CRISPRi-microfluidics screening enables genome-scale target identification for high-titer protein production and secretion. Metab Eng 2023; 75:192-204. [PMID: 36572334 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Genome-scale target identification promises to guide microbial cell factory engineering for higher-titer production of biomolecules such as recombinant proteins (r-protein), but challenges remain due to the need not only for comprehensive genotypic perturbation but also in conjunction with high-throughput phenotypic screening strategies. Here, we developed a CRISPRi-microfluidics screening platform to systematically identify crucial gene targets that can be engineered to enhance r-protein secretion in Corynebacterium glutamicum. We created a CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) library containing 46,549 single-guide RNAs, where we aimed to unbiasedly target all genes for repression. Meanwhile, we developed a highly efficient droplet-based microfluidics system integrating the FlAsH-tetracysteine assay that enables screening of millions of strains to identify potential knockdowns conducive to nanobody VHH secretion. Among our highest-ranking candidates are a slew of previously unknown targets involved in transmembrane transport, amino-acid metabolism and redox regulation. Guided by these findings, we eventually constructed a hyperproducer for multiple proteins via combinatorial engineering of redox-response transcription factors. As the near-universal applicability of CRISPRi technology and the FlAsH-based screening platform, this procedure might be expanded to include a varied variety of microbial species and recombinant proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Yu
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; MOE Key Laboratory for Industrial Biocatalysis, Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Shuang Li
- MOE Key Laboratory for Industrial Biocatalysis, Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Huibao Feng
- MOE Key Laboratory for Industrial Biocatalysis, Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xihao Liao
- MOE Key Laboratory for Industrial Biocatalysis, Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xin-Hui Xing
- MOE Key Laboratory for Industrial Biocatalysis, Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zhonghu Bai
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Xiuxia Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.
| | - Chong Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Industrial Biocatalysis, Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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Spoto M, Riera Puma JP, Fleming E, Guan C, Ondouah Nzutchi Y, Kim D, Oh J. Large-Scale CRISPRi and Transcriptomics of Staphylococcus epidermidis Identify Genetic Factors Implicated in Lifestyle Versatility. mBio 2022; 13:e0263222. [PMID: 36409086 PMCID: PMC9765180 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02632-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a ubiquitous human commensal skin bacterium that is also one of the most prevalent nosocomial pathogens. The genetic factors underlying this remarkable lifestyle plasticity are incompletely understood, mainly due to the difficulties of genetic manipulation, precluding high-throughput functional profiling of this species. To probe the versatility of S. epidermidis to survive across a diversity of environmental conditions, we developed a large-scale CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screen complemented by transcriptional profiling (RNA sequencing) across 24 diverse conditions and piloted a droplet-based CRISPRi approach to enhance throughput and sensitivity. We identified putative essential genes, importantly revealing amino acid metabolism as crucial to survival across diverse environments, and demonstrated the importance of trace metal uptake for survival under multiple stress conditions. We identified pathways significantly enriched and repressed across our range of stress and nutrient-limited conditions, demonstrating the considerable plasticity of S. epidermidis in responding to environmental stressors. Additionally, we postulate a mechanism by which nitrogen metabolism is linked to lifestyle versatility in response to hyperosmotic challenges, such as those encountered on human skin. Finally, we examined the survival of S. epidermidis under acid stress and hypothesize a role for cell wall modification as a vital component of the survival response under acidic conditions. Taken together, this study integrates large-scale CRISPRi and transcriptomics data across multiple environments to provide insights into a keystone member of the human skin microbiome. Our results additionally provide a valuable benchmarking analysis for CRISPRi screens and are a rich resource for other staphylococcal researchers. IMPORTANCE Staphylococcus epidermidis is a bacteria that broadly inhabits healthy human skin, yet it is also a common cause of skin infections and bloodstream infections associated with implanted medical devices. Because human skin has many different types of S. epidermidis, each containing different genes, our goal is to determine how these different genes allow S. epidermidis to switch from healthy growth in the skin to being an infectious pathogen. Understanding this switch is critical to developing new strategies to prevent and treat S. epidermidis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Spoto
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
- The University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth Fleming
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Changhui Guan
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Dean Kim
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Julia Oh
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
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Yan MY, Zheng D, Li SS, Ding XY, Wang CL, Guo XP, Zhan L, Jin Q, Yang J, Sun YC. Application of combined CRISPR screening for genetic and chemical-genetic interaction profiling in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadd5907. [PMID: 36417506 PMCID: PMC9683719 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add5907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR screening, including CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) and CRISPR-knockout (CRISPR-KO) screening, has become a powerful technology in the genetic screening of eukaryotes. In contrast with eukaryotes, CRISPR-KO screening has not yet been applied to functional genomics studies in bacteria. Here, we constructed genome-scale CRISPR-KO and also CRISPRi libraries in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). We first examined these libraries to identify genes essential for Mtb viability. Subsequent screening identified dozens of genes associated with resistance/susceptibility to the antitubercular drug bedaquiline (BDQ). Genetic and chemical validation of the screening results suggested that it provided a valuable resource to investigate mechanisms of action underlying the effects of BDQ and to identify chemical-genetic synergies that can be used to optimize tuberculosis therapy. In summary, our results demonstrate the potential for efficient genome-wide CRISPR-KO screening in bacteria and establish a combined CRISPR screening approach for high-throughput investigation of genetic and chemical-genetic interactions in Mtb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Yi Yan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Dandan Zheng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Si-Shang Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Xin-Yuan Ding
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Chun-Liang Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Peng Guo
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Lingjun Zhan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Qi Jin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Jian Yang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yi-Cheng Sun
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. China
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LeBlanc N, Charles TC. Bacterial genome reductions: Tools, applications, and challenges. Front Genome Ed 2022; 4:957289. [PMID: 36120530 PMCID: PMC9473318 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2022.957289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial cells are widely used to produce value-added products due to their versatility, ease of manipulation, and the abundance of genome engineering tools. However, the efficiency of producing these desired biomolecules is often hindered by the cells’ own metabolism, genetic instability, and the toxicity of the product. To overcome these challenges, genome reductions have been performed, making strains with the potential of serving as chassis for downstream applications. Here we review the current technologies that enable the design and construction of such reduced-genome bacteria as well as the challenges that limit their assembly and applicability. While genomic reductions have shown improvement of many cellular characteristics, a major challenge still exists in constructing these cells efficiently and rapidly. Computational tools have been created in attempts at minimizing the time needed to design these organisms, but gaps still exist in modelling these reductions in silico. Genomic reductions are a promising avenue for improving the production of value-added products, constructing chassis cells, and for uncovering cellular function but are currently limited by their time-consuming construction methods. With improvements to and the creation of novel genome editing tools and in silico models, these approaches could be combined to expedite this process and create more streamlined and efficient cell factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole LeBlanc
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Nicole LeBlanc,
| | - Trevor C. Charles
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Metagenom Bio Life Science Inc., Waterloo, ON, Canada
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Abstract
Bacteriophages are the most abundant entities in the biosphere, and many genomes of rare and novel bacteriophages have been sequenced to date. However, bacteriophage functional genomics has been limited by a lack of effective research methods. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated gene (CRISPR–Cas) systems provide bacteriophages with a new mechanism for attacking host bacteria as well as new tools for study bacteriophage functional genomics. It has been reported that bacteriophages are not only the driving elements of the evolution of prokaryote CRISPR arrays but also the targets of CRISPR–Cas systems. In this study, a phage genome editing platform based on the heterologous CRISPR–Cas9 system was theoretically designed, and a Vibrio natriegens phage TT4P2 genome editing experiment was carried out in vivo in the host bacterium Vibrio natriegens TT4 to achieve phage gene deletion and replacement. The construction of this phage genome editing platform is expected to solve the problem of insufficient research on phage gene diversity, promote the development of phage synthetic biology and nanotechnology, and even accelerate the discovery of new molecular biology tools. IMPORTANCE Bacteriophages are the most numerous organisms on earth and are known for their diverse lifestyles. Since the discovery of bacteriophages, our knowledge of the wider biological world has undergone immense and unforeseen changes. A variety of V. natriegens phages have been detected, but few have been well characterized. CRISPR was first documented in Escherichia coli in 1987. It has been reported that the CRISPR–Cas system can target and cleave invaders, including bacteriophages, in a sequence-specific manner. Here, we show that the construction of a phage genome editing platform based on the heterologous CRISPR–Cas9 system can achieve V. natriegens phage TT4P2 gene editing and can also improve the efficiency and accuracy of phage TT4P2 gene editing.
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Stadler KA, Becker W, Darnhofer B, Birner-Gruenberger R, Zangger K. Overexpression of recombinant proteins containing non-canonical amino acids in Vibrio natriegens: p-azido-L-phenylalanine as coupling site for 19F-tags. Amino Acids 2022; 54:1041-1053. [PMID: 35419750 PMCID: PMC9217835 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-022-03148-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Vibrio natriegens is the fastest growing organism identified so far. The minimum doubling time of only 9.4 min, the ability to utilize over 60 different carbon sources and its non-pathogenic properties make it an interesting alternative to E. coli as a new production host for recombinant proteins. We investigated the ability of the engineered V. natriegens strain, Vmax™ Express, to incorporate the non-canonical amino acid (ncAA) p-azido-L-phenylalanine (AzF) into recombinant proteins for NMR applications. AzF was incorporated into enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) and MlaC, an intermembrane transport protein, by stop codon suppression. AzF incorporation into EYFP resulted in an improved suppression efficiency (SE) of up to 35.5 ± 0.8% and a protein titer of 26.7 ± 0.7 mg/L. The expression levels of MlaC-AzF even exceeded those of E. coli BL21 cells. For the recording of 1H-15N and 19F NMR spectra, EYFP-AzF was expressed and isotopically labeled in minimal medium and the newly introduced azido-group was used as coupling site for NMR sensitive 19F-tags. Our findings show that Vmax is a flexible expression host, suitable for the incorporation of ncAAs in recombinant proteins with the potential to surpass protein yields of E. coli. The presented method suggests the implementation of V. natriegens for expression of isotopically labeled proteins containing ncAAs, which can be chemically modified for the application in protein-observed 19F-NMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina A Stadler
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 28, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Walter Becker
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 28, 8010, Graz, Austria
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Barbara Darnhofer
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Stiftingtalstrasse 6, 8010, Graz, Austria
- Omics Center Graz, BioTechMed-Graz, Stiftingtalstrasse 24, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Ruth Birner-Gruenberger
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Stiftingtalstrasse 6, 8010, Graz, Austria
- Omics Center Graz, BioTechMed-Graz, Stiftingtalstrasse 24, 8010, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Technische Universität Wien, Getreidemarkt 9/164, 1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klaus Zangger
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 28, 8010, Graz, Austria.
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A Special Phenotype of Aconidial Aspergillus niger SH2 and Its Mechanism of Formation via CRISPRi. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8070679. [PMID: 35887436 PMCID: PMC9319794 DOI: 10.3390/jof8070679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex morphological structure of Aspergillus niger influences its production of proteins, metabolites, etc., making the genetic manipulation and clonal purification of this species increasingly difficult, especially in aconidial Aspergillus niger. In this study, we found that N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) could induce the formation of spore-like propagules in the aconidial Aspergillus niger SH2 strain. The spore-like propagules possessed life activities such as drug resistance, genetic transformation, and germination. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that the spore-like propagules were resting conidia entering dormancy and becoming more tolerant to environmental stresses. The Dac1 gene and the metabolic pathway of GlcNAc converted to glycolysis are related to the formation of the spore-like propagules, as evidenced by the CRISPRi system, qPCR, and semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Moreover, a method based on the CRISPR-Cas9 tool to rapidly recycle screening tags and recover genes was suitable for Aspergillus niger SH2. To sum up, this suggests that the spore-like propagules are resting conidia and the mechanism of their formation is the metabolic pathway of GlcNAc converted to glycolysis, particularly the Dac1 gene. This study can improve our understanding of the critical factors involved in mechanisms of phenotypic change and provides a good model for researching phenotypic change in filamentous fungi.
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Dewachter L, Dénéréaz J, Liu X, de Bakker V, Costa C, Baldry M, Sirard JC, Veening JW. Amoxicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae can be resensitized by targeting the mevalonate pathway as indicated by sCRilecs-seq. eLife 2022; 11:75607. [PMID: 35748540 PMCID: PMC9363119 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance in the important opportunistic human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae is on the rise. This is particularly problematic in the case of the β-lactam antibiotic amoxicillin, which is the first-line therapy. It is therefore crucial to uncover targets that would kill or resensitize amoxicillin-resistant pneumococci. To do so, we developed a genome-wide, single-cell based, gene silencing screen using CRISPR interference called sCRilecs-seq (subsets of CRISPR interference libraries extracted by fluorescence activated cell sorting coupled to next generation sequencing). Since amoxicillin affects growth and division, sCRilecs-seq was used to identify targets that are responsible for maintaining proper cell size. Our screen revealed that downregulation of the mevalonate pathway leads to extensive cell elongation. Further investigation into this phenotype indicates that it is caused by a reduced availability of cell wall precursors at the site of cell wall synthesis due to a limitation in the production of undecaprenyl phosphate (Und-P), the lipid carrier that is responsible for transporting these precursors across the cell membrane. The data suggest that, whereas peptidoglycan synthesis continues even with reduced Und-P levels, cell constriction is specifically halted. We successfully exploited this knowledge to create a combination treatment strategy where the FDA-approved drug clomiphene, an inhibitor of Und-P synthesis, is paired up with amoxicillin. Our results show that clomiphene potentiates the antimicrobial activity of amoxicillin and that combination therapy resensitizes amoxicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae. These findings could provide a starting point to develop a solution for the increasing amount of hard-to-treat amoxicillin-resistant pneumococcal infections. Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacterium that can cause pneumonia, meningitis and other life-threatening illnesses in humans. Currently, many S. pneumoniae infections are treated with the antibiotic amoxicillin, which kills the bacteria by weakening a structure known as the cell wall that surrounds each bacterium. However, more and more S. pneumoniae cells are becoming resistant to amoxicillin, making it harder to treat such infections. We need new ways to effectively treat S. pneumoniae infections in humans. One potential strategy would be to combine amoxicillin with another drug that boosts the activity of amoxicillin so that it is able to kill the resistant bacteria. Two drugs that both target the same process in cells are more likely to boost each other’s activity. Therefore, Dewachter et al. decided to search for another drug that also weakens the cell wall of S. pneumoniae. The team first developed a new screening approach called sCRilecs-seq to silence individual genes in single S. pneumoniae cells. By looking at many cells that each had a different gene that was no longer active, the team were able to identify several genes that when silenced resulted in the cells becoming longer than normal cells (a sign the bacteria may have weak cell walls). Further experiments revealed that the cell walls of these bacteria were weaker than normal cells due to a shortage in a cell wall building material known as undecaprenyl phosphate. Dewachter et al. then demonstrated that combining an existing drug known as clomiphene – which is known to inhibit undecaprenyl phosphate production and is currently used to treat infertility in humans – together with amoxicillin is able to effectively kill S. pneumoniae that are resistant to amoxicillin alone. Clomiphene also boosted the activity of amoxicillin against S. pneumoniae that remain sensitive to the antibiotic. Before this new drug combination may be used to help treat S. pneumoniae infections in human patients, further experiments will be needed to find out the optimum dose of clomiphene to use with amoxicillin. In the future, the new screening approach developed by Dewachter et al. may also prove useful to other researchers studying a wide range of biological questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liselot Dewachter
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Dénéréaz
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Xue Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Vincent de Bakker
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Jan-Willem Veening
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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50
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Call SN, Andrews LB. CRISPR-Based Approaches for Gene Regulation in Non-Model Bacteria. Front Genome Ed 2022; 4:892304. [PMID: 35813973 PMCID: PMC9260158 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2022.892304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) and CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) have become ubiquitous approaches to control gene expression in bacteria due to their simple design and effectiveness. By regulating transcription of a target gene(s), CRISPRi/a can dynamically engineer cellular metabolism, implement transcriptional regulation circuitry, or elucidate genotype-phenotype relationships from smaller targeted libraries up to whole genome-wide libraries. While CRISPRi/a has been primarily established in the model bacteria Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, a growing numbering of studies have demonstrated the extension of these tools to other species of bacteria (here broadly referred to as non-model bacteria). In this mini-review, we discuss the challenges that contribute to the slower creation of CRISPRi/a tools in diverse, non-model bacteria and summarize the current state of these approaches across bacterial phyla. We find that despite the potential difficulties in establishing novel CRISPRi/a in non-model microbes, over 190 recent examples across eight bacterial phyla have been reported in the literature. Most studies have focused on tool development or used these CRISPRi/a approaches to interrogate gene function, with fewer examples applying CRISPRi/a gene regulation for metabolic engineering or high-throughput screens and selections. To date, most CRISPRi/a reports have been developed for common strains of non-model bacterial species, suggesting barriers remain to establish these genetic tools in undomesticated bacteria. More efficient and generalizable methods will help realize the immense potential of programmable CRISPR-based transcriptional control in diverse bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie N. Call
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Lauren B. Andrews
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
- Biotechnology Training Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
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