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Ladeveze S, Zurek PJ, Kaminski TS, Emond S, Hollfelder F. Versatile Product Detection via Coupled Assays for Ultrahigh-Throughput Screening of Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes in Microfluidic Droplets. ACS Catal 2023; 13:10232-10243. [PMID: 37560191 PMCID: PMC10407846 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c01609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Enzyme discovery and directed evolution are the two major contemporary approaches for the improvement of industrial processes by biocatalysis in various fields. Customization of catalysts for improvement of single enzyme reactions or de novo reaction development is often complex and tedious. The success of screening campaigns relies on the fraction of sequence space that can be sampled, whether for evolving a particular enzyme or screening metagenomes. Ultrahigh-throughput screening (uHTS) based on in vitro compartmentalization in water-in-oil emulsion of picoliter droplets generated in microfluidic systems allows screening rates >1 kHz (or >107 per day). Screening for carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) catalyzing biotechnologically valuable reactions in this format presents an additional challenge because the released carbohydrates are difficult to monitor in high throughput. Activated substrates with large optically active hydrophobic leaving groups provide a generic optical readout, but the molecular recognition properties of sugars will be altered by the incorporation of such fluoro- or chromophores and their typically higher reactivity, as leaving groups with lowered pKa values compared to native substrates make the observation of promiscuous reactions more likely. To overcome these issues, we designed microdroplet assays in which optically inactive carbohydrate products are made visible by specific cascades: the primary reaction of an unlabeled substrate leads to an optical signal downstream. Successfully implementing such assays at the picoliter droplet scale allowed us to detect glucose, xylose, glucuronic acid, and arabinose as final products of complex oligosaccharide degradation by glycoside hydrolases by absorbance measurements. Enabling the use of uHTS for screening CAZyme reactions that have been thus far elusive will chart a route toward faster and easier development of specific and efficient biocatalysts for biovalorization, directing enzyme discovery by challenging catalysts for reaction with natural rather than model substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul J. Zurek
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB21GA, U.K.
| | | | | | - Florian Hollfelder
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB21GA, U.K.
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2
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Trinh TND, Do HDK, Nam NN, Dan TT, Trinh KTL, Lee NY. Droplet-Based Microfluidics: Applications in Pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:937. [PMID: 37513850 PMCID: PMC10385691 DOI: 10.3390/ph16070937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidics offer great opportunities for applications in various fields, such as diagnostics, food sciences, and drug discovery. A droplet provides an isolated environment for performing a single reaction within a microscale-volume sample, allowing for a fast reaction with a high sensitivity, high throughput, and low risk of cross-contamination. Owing to several remarkable features, droplet-based microfluidic techniques have been intensively studied. In this review, we discuss the impact of droplet microfluidics, particularly focusing on drug screening and development. In addition, we surveyed various methods of device fabrication and droplet generation/manipulation. We further highlight some promising studies covering drug synthesis and delivery that were updated within the last 5 years. This review provides researchers with a quick guide that includes the most up-to-date and relevant information on the latest scientific findings on the development of droplet-based microfluidics in the pharmaceutical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi Ngoc Diep Trinh
- Department of Materials Science, School of Applied Chemistry, Tra Vinh University, Tra Vinh City 87000, Vietnam
| | - Hoang Dang Khoa Do
- NTT Hi-Tech Institute, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ward 13, District 04, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Nhat Nam
- Biotechnology Center, School of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Tra Vinh University, Tra Vinh City 87000, Vietnam
| | - Thach Thi Dan
- Department of Materials Science, School of Applied Chemistry, Tra Vinh University, Tra Vinh City 87000, Vietnam
| | - Kieu The Loan Trinh
- BioNano Applications Research Center, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 13120, Republic of Korea
| | - Nae Yoon Lee
- Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 13120, Republic of Korea
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3
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Jiang J, Yang G, Ma F. Fluorescence coupling strategies in fluorescence-activated droplet sorting (FADS) for ultrahigh-throughput screening of enzymes, metabolites, and antibodies. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 66:108173. [PMID: 37169102 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence-activated droplet sorting (FADS) has emerged as a powerful tool for ultrahigh-throughput screening of enzymes, metabolites, and antibodies. Fluorescence coupling strategies (FCSs) are key to the development of new FADS methods through their coupling of analyte properties such as concentration, activities, and affinity with fluorescence signals. Over the last decade, a series of FCSs have been developed, greatly expanding applications of FADS. Here, we review recent advances in FCS for different analyte types, providing a critical comparison of the available FCSs and further classification into four categories according to their principles. We also summarize successful FADS applications employing FCSs in enzymes, metabolites, and antibodies. Further, we outline possible future developments in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjie Jiang
- Medical Enzyme Engineering Center, CAS Key Lab of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215163, China
| | - Guangyu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Fuqiang Ma
- Medical Enzyme Engineering Center, CAS Key Lab of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215163, China.
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4
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Gantz M, Neun S, Medcalf EJ, van Vliet LD, Hollfelder F. Ultrahigh-Throughput Enzyme Engineering and Discovery in In Vitro Compartments. Chem Rev 2023; 123:5571-5611. [PMID: 37126602 PMCID: PMC10176489 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Novel and improved biocatalysts are increasingly sourced from libraries via experimental screening. The success of such campaigns is crucially dependent on the number of candidates tested. Water-in-oil emulsion droplets can replace the classical test tube, to provide in vitro compartments as an alternative screening format, containing genotype and phenotype and enabling a readout of function. The scale-down to micrometer droplet diameters and picoliter volumes brings about a >107-fold volume reduction compared to 96-well-plate screening. Droplets made in automated microfluidic devices can be integrated into modular workflows to set up multistep screening protocols involving various detection modes to sort >107 variants a day with kHz frequencies. The repertoire of assays available for droplet screening covers all seven enzyme commission (EC) number classes, setting the stage for widespread use of droplet microfluidics in everyday biochemical experiments. We review the practicalities of adapting droplet screening for enzyme discovery and for detailed kinetic characterization. These new ways of working will not just accelerate discovery experiments currently limited by screening capacity but profoundly change the paradigms we can probe. By interfacing the results of ultrahigh-throughput droplet screening with next-generation sequencing and deep learning, strategies for directed evolution can be implemented, examined, and evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Gantz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Stefanie Neun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Elliot J Medcalf
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Liisa D van Vliet
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Florian Hollfelder
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
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5
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A novel high-throughput approach for transforming filamentous fungi employing a droplet-based microfluidic platform. N Biotechnol 2022; 72:149-158. [PMID: 36442794 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2022.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidic technology is a powerful tool for single-cell cultivation and rapid isolation of bacteria, yeasts and algae. However, it has been of limited use for studies of filamentous fungi due to the fast growth of their branched hyphae. The long regeneration time for fungal protoplasts and low-throughput screening methods are inherent problems for current genetic transformation techniques. Therefore, we have developed a novel droplet-based method for the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a marker. This approach presented several outstanding advantages over the traditional transformation method, including a 7-fold reduction in time for T. reesei protoplast regeneration, an 8-fold increase in regeneration frequency, and a screening speed of up to 8,000 droplets min-1. In this study, we encapsulated and incubated the gfp-transformed T. reesei protoplasts in droplets for 24 h, screened the droplets in a high-throughput assay, and eventually collected a transformant library with over 96 % of the candidates transformed with the marker gene. This versatile approach should make fungi more amenable to genetic manipulation and encourage strain improvements for industrial applications.
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6
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Kim S, Jin SH, Lim HG, Lee B, Kim J, Yang J, Seo SW, Lee CS, Jung GY. Synthetic cellular communication-based screening for strains with improved 3-hydroxypropionic acid secretion. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:4455-4463. [PMID: 34651155 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00676b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Although cellular secretion is important in industrial biotechnology, its assessment is difficult due to the lack of efficient analytical methods. This study describes a synthetic cellular communication-based microfluidic platform for screening strains with the improved secretion of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), an industry-relevant platform chemical. 3-HP-secreting cells were compartmentalized in droplets, with receiving cells equipped with a genetic circuit that converts the 3-HP secretion level into an easily detectable signal. This platform was applied to identify Escherichia coli genes that enhance the secretion of 3-HP. As a result, two genes (setA, encoding a sugar exporter, and yjcO, encoding a Sel1 repeat-containing protein) found by this platform enhance the secretion of 3-HP and its production. Given the increasing design capability for chemical-detecting cells, this platform has considerable potential in identifying efflux pumps for not only 3-HP but also many important chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungjin Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Korea.
| | - Si Hyung Jin
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea.
| | - Hyun Gyu Lim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Korea.
| | - Byungjin Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea.
| | - Jaesung Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea.
| | - Jina Yang
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-Ro, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Sang Woo Seo
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-Ro, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Chang-Soo Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea.
| | - Gyoo Yeol Jung
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Korea.
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 37673, Korea
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7
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Aladese AD, Jeong HH. Recent Developments in 3D Printing of Droplet-Based Microfluidics. BIOCHIP JOURNAL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13206-021-00032-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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8
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Hu B, Xu P, Ma L, Chen D, Wang J, Dai X, Huang L, Du W. One cell at a time: droplet-based microbial cultivation, screening and sequencing. MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 3:169-188. [PMID: 37073344 PMCID: PMC10077293 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-020-00082-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Microbes thrive and, in turn, influence the earth's environment, but most are poorly understood because of our limited capacity to reveal their natural diversity and function. Developing novel tools and effective strategies are critical to ease this dilemma and will help to understand their roles in ecology and human health. Recently, droplet microfluidics is emerging as a promising technology for microbial studies with value in microbial cultivating, screening, and sequencing. This review aims to provide an overview of droplet microfluidics techniques for microbial research. First, some critical points or steps in the microfluidic system are introduced, such as droplet stabilization, manipulation, and detection. We then highlight the recent progress of droplet-based methods for microbiological applications, from high-throughput single-cell cultivation, screening to the targeted or whole-genome sequencing of single cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beiyu Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Peng Xu
- Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Liang Ma
- Department of Biomedical Devices, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510320 China
| | - Dongwei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Xin Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Li Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
| | - Wenbin Du
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
- Department of Biomedical Devices, Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510320 China
- College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
- Savaid Medical School, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China
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9
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Fu X, Zhang Y, Xu Q, Sun X, Meng F. Recent Advances on Sorting Methods of High-Throughput Droplet-Based Microfluidics in Enzyme Directed Evolution. Front Chem 2021; 9:666867. [PMID: 33996758 PMCID: PMC8114877 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.666867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidics has been widely applied in enzyme directed evolution (DE), in either cell or cell-free system, due to its low cost and high throughput. As the isolation principles are based on the labeled or label-free characteristics in the droplets, sorting method contributes mostly to the efficiency of the whole system. Fluorescence-activated droplet sorting (FADS) is the mostly applied labeled method but faces challenges of target enzyme scope. Label-free sorting methods show potential to greatly broaden the microfluidic application range. Here, we review the developments of droplet sorting methods through a comprehensive literature survey, including labeled detections [FADS and absorbance-activated droplet sorting (AADS)] and label-free detections [electrochemical-based droplet sorting (ECDS), mass-activated droplet sorting (MADS), Raman-activated droplet sorting (RADS), and nuclear magnetic resonance-based droplet sorting (NMR-DS)]. We highlight recent cases in the last 5 years in which novel enzymes or highly efficient variants are generated by microfluidic DE. In addition, the advantages and challenges of different sorting methods are briefly discussed to provide an outlook for future applications in enzyme DE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhi Fu
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Yueying Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Jinan, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Qiang Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Jinan, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaomeng Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Jinan, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Fanda Meng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Jinan, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
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10
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Neun S, Zurek PJ, Kaminski TS, Hollfelder F. Ultrahigh throughput screening for enzyme function in droplets. Methods Enzymol 2020; 643:317-343. [PMID: 32896286 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2020.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Water-in-oil droplets, made and handled in microfluidic devices, provide a new experimental format, in which ultrahigh throughput experiments can be conducted faster and with minimal reagent consumption. An increasing number of studies have emerged that applied this approach to directed evolution and metagenomic screening of enzyme catalysts. Here, we review the considerations necessary to implement robust workflows, based on choices of device design, detection modes, emulsion formulations and substrates, and scope out which enzyme classes have become amenable to droplet screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Neun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Paul J Zurek
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Tomasz S Kaminski
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Florian Hollfelder
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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11
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Bowman EK, Alper HS. Microdroplet-Assisted Screening of Biomolecule Production for Metabolic Engineering Applications. Trends Biotechnol 2020; 38:701-714. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2019.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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12
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Payne EM, Holland-Moritz DA, Sun S, Kennedy RT. High-throughput screening by droplet microfluidics: perspective into key challenges and future prospects. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:2247-2262. [PMID: 32500896 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00347f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
In two decades of development, impressive strides have been made for automating basic laboratory operations in droplet-based microfluidics, allowing the emergence of a new form of high-throughput screening and experimentation in nanoliter to femtoliter volumes. Despite advancements in droplet storage, manipulation, and analysis, the field has not yet been widely adapted for many high-throughput screening (HTS) applications. Broad adoption and commercial development of these techniques require robust implementation of strategies for the stable storage, chemical containment, generation of libraries, sample tracking, and chemical analysis of these small samples. We discuss these challenges for implementing droplet HTS and highlight key strategies that have begun to address these concerns. Recent advances in the field leave us optimistic about the future prospects of this rapidly developing technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emory M Payne
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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13
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Winning the numbers game in enzyme evolution - fast screening methods for improved biotechnology proteins. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2020; 63:123-133. [PMID: 32615371 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2020.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The booming demand for environmentally benign industrial processes relies on the ability to quickly find or engineer a biocatalyst suitable to ideal process conditions. Both metagenomic approaches and directed evolution involve the screening of huge libraries of protein variants, which can only be managed reasonably by flexible platforms for (ultra)high-throughput profiling against the desired criteria. Here, we review the most recent additions toward a growing toolbox of versatile assays using fluorescence, absorbance and mass spectrometry readouts. While conventional solution based high-throughput screening in microtiter plate formats is still important, the implementation of novel screening protocols for microfluidic cell or droplet sorting systems supports technological advances for ultra-high-frequency screening that now can dramatically reduce the timescale of engineering projects. We discuss practical issues of scope, scalability, sensitivity and stereoselectivity for the improvement of biotechnologically relevant enzymes from different classes.
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14
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Chiu FWY, Stavrakis S. High-throughput droplet-based microfluidics for directed evolution of enzymes. Electrophoresis 2019; 40:2860-2872. [PMID: 31433062 PMCID: PMC6899980 DOI: 10.1002/elps.201900222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Natural enzymes have evolved over millions of years to allow for their effective operation within specific environments. However, it is significant to note that despite their wide structural and chemical diversity, relatively few natural enzymes have been successfully applied to industrial processes. To address this limitation, directed evolution (DE) (a method that mimics the process of natural selection to evolve proteins toward a user‐defined goal) coupled with droplet‐based microfluidics allows the detailed analysis of millions of enzyme variants on ultra‐short timescales, and thus the design of novel enzymes with bespoke properties. In this review, we aim at presenting the development of DE over the last years and highlighting the most important advancements in droplet‐based microfluidics, made in this context towards the high‐throughput demands of enzyme optimization. Specifically, an overview of the range of microfluidic unit operations available for the construction of DE platforms is provided, focusing on their suitability and benefits for cell‐based assays, as in the case of directed evolution experimentations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora W Y Chiu
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Stavros Stavrakis
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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15
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Recent Advances in Droplet-based Microfluidic Technologies for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:mi10060412. [PMID: 31226819 PMCID: PMC6631694 DOI: 10.3390/mi10060412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Recently, droplet-based microfluidic systems have been widely used in various biochemical and molecular biological assays. Since this platform technique allows manipulation of large amounts of data and also provides absolute accuracy in comparison to conventional bioanalytical approaches, over the last decade a range of basic biochemical and molecular biological operations have been transferred to drop-based microfluidic formats. In this review, we introduce recent advances and examples of droplet-based microfluidic techniques that have been applied in biochemistry and molecular biology research including genomics, proteomics and cellomics. Their advantages and weaknesses in various applications are also comprehensively discussed here. The purpose of this review is to provide a new point of view and current status in droplet-based microfluidics to biochemists and molecular biologists. We hope that this review will accelerate communications between researchers who are working in droplet-based microfluidics, biochemistry and molecular biology.
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16
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Fang X, Zheng Y, Duan Y, Liu Y, Zhong W. Recent Advances in Design of Fluorescence-Based Assays for High-Throughput Screening. Anal Chem 2019; 91:482-504. [PMID: 30481456 PMCID: PMC7262998 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b05303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoni Fang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Yongzan Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Yaokai Duan
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Yang Liu
- Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Wenwan Zhong
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
- Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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17
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Bunzel HA, Garrabou X, Pott M, Hilvert D. Speeding up enzyme discovery and engineering with ultrahigh-throughput methods. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2018; 48:149-156. [PMID: 29413955 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2017.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Exploring the sequence space of enzyme catalysts is ultimately a numbers game. Ultrahigh-throughput screening methods for rapid analysis of millions of variants are therefore increasingly important for investigating sequence-function relationships, searching large metagenomic libraries for interesting activities, and accelerating enzyme evolution in the laboratory. Recent applications of such technologies are reviewed here, with a particular focus on the practical benefits of droplet-based microfluidics for the directed evolution of natural and artificial enzymes. Broader implementation of such rapid, cost-effective screening technologies is likely to redefine the way enzymes are studied and engineered for academic and industrial purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Adrian Bunzel
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Zurich CH-8093, Switzerland
| | - Xavier Garrabou
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Zurich CH-8093, Switzerland
| | - Moritz Pott
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Zurich CH-8093, Switzerland
| | - Donald Hilvert
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Zurich CH-8093, Switzerland.
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18
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Yang L, Niu JY, Sun R, Xu YJ, Ge JF. Rosamine with pyronine-pyridinium skeleton: unique mitochondrial targetable structure for fluorescent probes. Analyst 2018; 143:1813-1819. [DOI: 10.1039/c7an02041d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Rosamine-based probes (1a–b) with pyronine-pyridinium skeleton served as mitochondrial targetable probes for detecting independent species (H2O2 and H2S).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Yang
- College of Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering and Material Science
- Soochow University
- Suzhou 215123
- China
| | - Jin-Yun Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection
- School of Radiation Medicine and Protection and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions
- Soochow University
- Suzhou 215123
- China
| | - Ru Sun
- College of Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering and Material Science
- Soochow University
- Suzhou 215123
- China
| | - Yu-Jie Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection
- School of Radiation Medicine and Protection and Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions
- Soochow University
- Suzhou 215123
- China
| | - Jian-Feng Ge
- College of Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering and Material Science
- Soochow University
- Suzhou 215123
- China
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19
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Abstract
Small-molecule drug discovery can be viewed as a challenging multidimensional problem in which various characteristics of compounds - including efficacy, pharmacokinetics and safety - need to be optimized in parallel to provide drug candidates. Recent advances in areas such as microfluidics-assisted chemical synthesis and biological testing, as well as artificial intelligence systems that improve a design hypothesis through feedback analysis, are now providing a basis for the introduction of greater automation into aspects of this process. This could potentially accelerate time frames for compound discovery and optimization and enable more effective searches of chemical space. However, such approaches also raise considerable conceptual, technical and organizational challenges, as well as scepticism about the current hype around them. This article aims to identify the approaches and technologies that could be implemented robustly by medicinal chemists in the near future and to critically analyse the opportunities and challenges for their more widespread application.
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20
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Kaminski TS, Garstecki P. Controlled droplet microfluidic systems for multistep chemical and biological assays. Chem Soc Rev 2017; 46:6210-6226. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cs00717h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics is a relatively new and rapidly evolving field of science focused on studying the hydrodynamics and properties of biphasic flows at the microscale, and on the development of systems for practical applications in chemistry, biology and materials science.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. S. Kaminski
- Institute of Physical Chemistry
- Polish Academy of Sciences
- 01-224 Warsaw
- Poland
| | - P. Garstecki
- Institute of Physical Chemistry
- Polish Academy of Sciences
- 01-224 Warsaw
- Poland
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