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Aptamers, Riboswitches, and Ribozymes in S. cerevisiae Synthetic Biology. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11030248. [PMID: 33802772 PMCID: PMC8002509 DOI: 10.3390/life11030248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Among noncoding RNA sequences, riboswitches and ribozymes have attracted the attention of the synthetic biology community as circuit components for translation regulation. When fused to aptamer sequences, ribozymes and riboswitches are enabled to interact with chemicals. Therefore, protein synthesis can be controlled at the mRNA level without the need for transcription factors. Potentially, the use of chemical-responsive ribozymes/riboswitches would drastically simplify the design of genetic circuits. In this review, we describe synthetic RNA structures that have been used so far in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We present their interaction mode with different chemicals (e.g., theophylline and antibiotics) or proteins (such as the RNase III) and their recent employment into clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats–CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas) systems. Particular attention is paid, throughout the whole paper, to their usage and performance into synthetic gene circuits.
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Horie F, Endo K, Ito K. Artificial Protein-Responsive Riboswitches Upregulate Non-AUG Translation Initiation in Yeast. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1623-1631. [PMID: 32531157 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Artificial control of gene expression is one of the core technologies for engineering biological systems. Riboswitches are cis-acting elements on mRNA that regulate gene expression in a ligand-dependent manner often seen in prokaryotes, but rarely in eukaryotes. Because of the poor variety of such elements available in eukaryotic systems, the number of artificially engineered eukaryotic riboswitches, especially of the upregulation type, is still limited. Here, we developed a design principle for upregulation-type riboswitches that utilize non-AUG initiation induced by ribosomal stalling in a ligand-dependent manner in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our design principle simply required the proper positioning of a near-cognate start codon relative to the RNA aptamer. Intriguingly, the CUG codon was the most preferable for non-AUG ON switches in terms of output level and switch performance. This work establishes novel choices for artificial genetic control in eukaryotes with versatile potential for industrial and biomedical applications as well as basic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumihiro Horie
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Kei Endo
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Koichi Ito
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
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3
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Gordon GC, Cameron JC, Pfleger BF. Distinct and redundant functions of three homologs of RNase III in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002. Nucleic Acids Res 2018; 46:1984-1997. [PMID: 29373746 PMCID: PMC5829567 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
RNase III is a ribonuclease that recognizes and cleaves double-stranded RNA. Across bacteria, RNase III is involved in rRNA maturation, CRISPR RNA maturation, controlling gene expression, and turnover of messenger RNAs. Many organisms have only one RNase III while others have both a full-length RNase III and another version that lacks a double-stranded RNA binding domain (mini-III). The genome of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 (PCC 7002) encodes three homologs of RNase III, two full-length and one mini-III, that are not essential even when deleted in combination. To discern if each enzyme had distinct responsibilities, we collected and sequenced global RNA samples from the wild type strain, the single, double, and triple RNase III mutants. Approximately 20% of genes were differentially expressed in various mutants with some operons and regulons showing complex changes in expression levels between mutants. Two RNase III's had a role in 23S rRNA maturation and the third was involved in copy number regulation one of six native plasmids. In vitro, purified RNase III enzymes were capable of cleaving some of the known Escherichia coli RNase III target sequences, highlighting the remarkably conserved substrate specificity between organisms yet complex regulation of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina C Gordon
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Cameron
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Brian F Pfleger
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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Ho PW, Klein M, Futschik M, Nevoigt E. Glycerol positive promoters for tailored metabolic engineering of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. FEMS Yeast Res 2018; 18:4898018. [DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foy019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ping-Wei Ho
- Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany
| | - Mathias Klein
- Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany
| | - Matthias Futschik
- School of Biomedical and Healthcare Sciences, Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal
| | - Elke Nevoigt
- Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany
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5
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Strategies for manipulation of oxygen utilization by the electron transfer chain in microbes for metabolic engineering purposes. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 44:647-658. [PMID: 27800562 DOI: 10.1007/s10295-016-1851-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Microaerobic growth is of importance in ecological niches, pathogenic infections and industrial production of chemicals. The use of low levels of oxygen enables the cell to gain energy and grow more robustly in the presence of a carbon source that can be oxidized and provide electrons to the respiratory chain in the membrane. A considerable amount of information is available on the genes and proteins involved in respiratory growth and the regulation of genes involved in aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. The dependence of regulation on sensing systems that respond to reduced quinones (e.g. ArcB) or oxygen levels that affect labile redox components of transcription regulators (Fnr) are key in understanding the regulation. Manipulation of the amount of respiration can be difficult to control in dense cultures or inadequately mixed reactors leading to inhomogeneous cultures that may have lower than optimal performance. Efforts to control respiration through genetic means have been reported and address mutations affecting components of the electron transport chain. In a recent report completion for intermediates of the ubiquinone biosynthetic pathway was used to dial the level of respiration vs lactate formation in an aerobically grown E. coli culture.
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Trikka FA, Nikolaidis A, Athanasakoglou A, Andreadelli A, Ignea C, Kotta K, Argiriou A, Kampranis SC, Makris AM. Iterative carotenogenic screens identify combinations of yeast gene deletions that enhance sclareol production. Microb Cell Fact 2015; 14:60. [PMID: 25903744 PMCID: PMC4413541 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-015-0246-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Terpenoids (isoprenoids) have numerous applications in flavors, fragrances, drugs and biofuels. The number of microbially produced terpenoids is increasing as new biosynthetic pathways are being elucidated. However, efforts to improve terpenoid production in yeast have mostly taken advantage of existing knowledge of the sterol biosynthetic pathway, while many additional factors may affect the output of the engineered system. Results Aiming to develop a yeast strain that can support high titers of sclareol, a diterpene of great importance for the perfume industry, we sought to identify gene deletions that improved carotenoid, and thus potentially sclareol, production. Using a carotenogenic screen, the best 100 deletion mutants, out of 4,700 mutant strains, were selected to create a subset for further analysis. To identify combinations of deletions that cooperate to further boost production, iterative carotenogenic screens were applied, and each time the top performing gene deletions were further ranked according to the number of genetic and physical interactions known for each specific gene. The gene selected in each round was deleted and the resulting strain was employed in a new round of selection. This approach led to the development of an EG60 derived haploid strain combining six deletions (rox1, dos2, yer134c, vba5, ynr063w and ygr259c) and exhibiting a 40-fold increase in carotenoid and 12-fold increase in sclareol titers, reaching 750 mg/L sclareol in shake flask cultivation. Conclusion Using an iterative approach, we identified novel combinations of yeast gene deletions that improve carotenoid and sclareol production titers without compromising strain growth and viability. Most of the identified deletions have not previously been implicated in sterol pathway control. Applying the same approach using a different starting point could yield alternative sets of deletions with similar or improved outcome. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12934-015-0246-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fotini A Trikka
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/CERTH, P.O. Box 60361, Thermi, 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Alexandros Nikolaidis
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/CERTH, P.O. Box 60361, Thermi, 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Anastasia Athanasakoglou
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/CERTH, P.O. Box 60361, Thermi, 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece. .,Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, Heraklion, 71003, Greece.
| | - Aggeliki Andreadelli
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/CERTH, P.O. Box 60361, Thermi, 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Codruta Ignea
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, Heraklion, 71003, Greece.
| | - Konstantia Kotta
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/CERTH, P.O. Box 60361, Thermi, 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Anagnostis Argiriou
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/CERTH, P.O. Box 60361, Thermi, 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Sotirios C Kampranis
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, Heraklion, 71003, Greece.
| | - Antonios M Makris
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/CERTH, P.O. Box 60361, Thermi, 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Tsai CS, Kwak S, Turner TL, Jin YS. Yeast synthetic biology toolbox and applications for biofuel production. FEMS Yeast Res 2015; 15:1-15. [PMID: 25195615 DOI: 10.1111/1567-1364.12206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Yeasts are efficient biofuel producers with numerous advantages outcompeting bacterial counterparts. While most synthetic biology tools have been developed and customized for bacteria especially for Escherichia coli, yeast synthetic biological tools have been exploited for improving yeast to produce fuels and chemicals from renewable biomass. Here we review the current status of synthetic biological tools and their applications for biofuel production, focusing on the model strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae We describe assembly techniques that have been developed for constructing genes, pathways, and genomes in yeast. Moreover, we discuss synthetic parts for allowing precise control of gene expression at both transcriptional and translational levels. Applications of these synthetic biological approaches have led to identification of effective gene targets that are responsible for desirable traits, such as cellulosic sugar utilization, advanced biofuel production, and enhanced tolerance against toxic products for biofuel production from renewable biomass. Although an array of synthetic biology tools and devices are available, we observed some gaps existing in tool development to achieve industrial utilization. Looking forward, future tool development should focus on industrial cultivation conditions utilizing industrial strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Sung Tsai
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Suryang Kwak
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.,Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Timothy L Turner
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.,Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Yong-Su Jin
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA .,Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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8
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Lin H, Qin S. Tipping points in seaweed genetic engineering: scaling up opportunities in the next decade. Mar Drugs 2014; 12:3025-45. [PMID: 24857961 PMCID: PMC4052329 DOI: 10.3390/md12053025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2014] [Revised: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Seaweed genetic engineering is a transgenic expression system with unique features compared with those of heterotrophic prokaryotes and higher plants. This study discusses several newly sequenced seaweed nuclear genomes and the necessity that research on vector design should consider endogenous promoters, codon optimization, and gene copy number. Seaweed viruses and artificial transposons can be applied as transformation methods after acquiring a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of viral infections in seaweeds and transposon patterns in seaweed genomes. After cultivating transgenic algal cells and tissues in a photobioreactor, a biosafety assessment of genetically modified (GM) seaweeds must be conducted before open-sea application. We propose a set of programs for the evaluation of gene flow from GM seaweeds to local/geographical environments. The effective implementation of such programs requires fundamentally systematic and interdisciplinary studies on algal physiology and genetics, marine hydrology, reproductive biology, and ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanzhi Lin
- Environmental Biophysics and Molecular Ecology Program, Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, 71 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
| | - Song Qin
- Key Lab of Coastal Biology and Bio-resource Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 17 Chunhui Road, Yantai 264003, China.
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9
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Nicholson AW. Ribonuclease III mechanisms of double-stranded RNA cleavage. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2013; 5:31-48. [PMID: 24124076 PMCID: PMC3867540 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2013] [Revised: 08/09/2013] [Accepted: 08/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Double-stranded(ds) RNA has diverse roles in gene expression and regulation, host defense, and genome surveillance in bacterial and eukaryotic cells. A central aspect of dsRNA function is its selective recognition and cleavage by members of the ribonuclease III (RNase III) family of divalent-metal-ion-dependent phosphodiesterases. The processing of dsRNA by RNase III family members is an essential step in the maturation and decay of coding and noncoding RNAs, including miRNAs and siRNAs. RNase III, as first purified from Escherichia coli, has served as a biochemically well-characterized prototype, and other bacterial orthologs provided the first structural information. RNase III family members share a unique fold (RNase III domain) that can dimerize to form a structure that binds dsRNA and cleaves phosphodiesters on each strand, providing the characteristic 2 nt, 3′-overhang product ends. Ongoing studies are uncovering the functions of additional domains, including, inter alia, the dsRNA-binding and PAZ domains that cooperate with the RNase III domain to select target sites, regulate activity, confer processivity, and support the recognition of structurally diverse substrates. RNase III enzymes function in multicomponent assemblies that are regulated by diverse inputs, and at least one RNase III-related polypeptide can function as a noncatalytic, dsRNA-binding protein. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the mechanisms of catalysis and target site selection of RNase III family members, and also addresses less well understood aspects of these enzymes and their interactions with dsRNA. WIREs RNA 2014, 5:31–48. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1195
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen W Nicholson
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, College of Science & Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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10
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Liu D, Hoynes-O'Connor A, Zhang F. Bridging the gap between systems biology and synthetic biology. Front Microbiol 2013; 4:211. [PMID: 23898328 PMCID: PMC3722476 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2013] [Accepted: 07/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Systems biology is an inter-disciplinary science that studies the complex interactions and the collective behavior of a cell or an organism. Synthetic biology, as a technological subject, combines biological science and engineering, allowing the design and manipulation of a system for certain applications. Both systems and synthetic biology have played important roles in the recent development of microbial platforms for energy, materials, and environmental applications. More importantly, systems biology provides the knowledge necessary for the development of synthetic biology tools, which in turn facilitates the manipulation and understanding of complex biological systems. Thus, the combination of systems and synthetic biology has huge potential for studying and engineering microbes, especially to perform advanced tasks, such as producing biofuels. Although there have been very few studies in integrating systems and synthetic biology, existing examples have demonstrated great power in extending microbiological capabilities. This review focuses on recent efforts in microbiological genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, aiming to fill the gap between systems and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Liu
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University St. Louis, MO, USA
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11
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Yamanishi M, Ito Y, Kintaka R, Imamura C, Katahira S, Ikeuchi A, Moriya H, Matsuyama T. A genome-wide activity assessment of terminator regions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae provides a ″terminatome″ toolbox. ACS Synth Biol 2013; 2:337-47. [PMID: 23654277 DOI: 10.1021/sb300116y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The terminator regions of eukaryotes encode functional elements in the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) that influence the 3'-end processing of mRNA, mRNA stability, and translational efficiency, which can modulate protein production. However, the contribution of these terminator regions to gene expression remains unclear, and therefore their utilization in metabolic engineering or synthetic genetic circuits has been limited. Here, we comprehensively evaluated the activity of 5302 terminator regions from a total of 5880 genes in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by inserting each terminator region downstream of the P TDH3 - green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene and measuring the fluorescent intensity of GFP. Terminator region activities relative to that of the PGK1 standard terminator ranged from 0.036 to 2.52, with a mean of 0.87. We thus could isolate the most and least active terminator regions. The activities of the terminator regions showed a positive correlation with mRNA abundance, indicating that the terminator region is a determinant of mRNA abundance. The least active terminator regions tended to encode longer 3'-UTRs, suggesting the existence of active degradation mechanisms for those mRNAs. The terminator regions of ribosomal protein genes tended to be the most active, suggesting the existence of a common regulator of those genes. The ″terminatome″ (the genome-wide set of terminator regions) thus not only provides valuable information to understand the modulatory roles of terminator regions on gene expression but also serves as a useful toolbox for the development of metabolically and genetically engineered yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Reiko Kintaka
- Research Core for Interdisciplinary
Sciences, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-Naka,
Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Hisao Moriya
- Research Core for Interdisciplinary
Sciences, Okayama University, 3-1-1 Tsushima-Naka,
Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan
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Endo K, Stapleton JA, Hayashi K, Saito H, Inoue T. Quantitative and simultaneous translational control of distinct mammalian mRNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:e135. [PMID: 23685611 PMCID: PMC3711428 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The introduction of multiple genes into cells is increasingly required for understanding and engineering biological systems. Small-molecule–responsive transcriptional regulation has been widely used to control transgene expression. In contrast, methods for specific and simultaneous regulation of multiple genes with a single regulatory protein remain undeveloped. In this report, we describe a method for quantitatively tuning the expression of multiple transgenes with a translational regulatory protein. A protein that binds a specific RNA motif inserted in the 5′-untranslated region (UTR) of an mRNA modulates the translation of that message in mammalian cells. We provide two independent mechanisms by which to rationally fine-tune the output: the efficiency of translation correlates well with the distance between the inserted motif and the 5′ terminus of the mRNA and is further modulated by the tandem insertion of multiple RNA motifs. The combination of these two approaches allowed us to fine-tune the translational efficiency of target mRNAs over a wide dynamic range. Moreover, we controlled the expression of two transgenes simultaneously and specifically by engineering each cis-regulatory 5′-UTR. The approach provides a useful alternative regulatory layer for controlling gene expression in biological research and engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Endo
- International Cooperative Research Project, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 5 Sanban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0075, Japan
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13
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Quantitative estimation of activity and quality for collections of functional genetic elements. Nat Methods 2013; 10:347-53. [DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.2403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2012] [Accepted: 02/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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14
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Wang YH, Wei KY, Smolke CD. Synthetic biology: advancing the design of diverse genetic systems. Annu Rev Chem Biomol Eng 2013; 4:69-102. [PMID: 23413816 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-061312-103351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
A major objective of synthetic biology is to make the process of designing genetically encoded biological systems more systematic, predictable, robust, scalable, and efficient. Examples of genetic systems in the field vary widely in terms of operating hosts, compositional approaches, and network complexity, ranging from simple genetic switches to search-and-destroy systems. While significant advances in DNA synthesis capabilities support the construction of pathway- and genome-scale programs, several design challenges currently restrict the scale of systems that can be reasonably designed and implemented. Thus, while synthetic biology offers much promise in developing systems to address challenges faced in the fields of manufacturing, environment and sustainability, and health and medicine, the realization of this potential is currently limited by the diversity of available parts and effective design frameworks. As researchers make progress in bridging this design gap, advances in the field hint at ever more diverse applications for biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Hsiang Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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15
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Innovation at the intersection of synthetic and systems biology. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2012; 23:712-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2011.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2011] [Accepted: 12/20/2011] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Abstract
Enzymes from the ribonuclease III family bind and cleave double-stranded RNA to initiate RNA processing and degradation of a large number of transcripts in bacteria and eukaryotes. This chapter focuses on the description of the diverse functions of fungal RNase III members in the processing and degradation of cellular RNAs, with a particular emphasis on the well-characterized representative in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rnt1p. RNase III enzymes fulfill important functions in the processing of the precursors of various stable noncoding RNAs such as ribosomal RNAs and small nuclear and nucleolar RNAs. In addition, they cleave and promote the degradation of specific mRNAs or improperly processed forms of certain mRNAs. The cleavage of these mRNAs serves both surveillance and regulatory functions. Finally, recent advances have shown that RNase III enzymes are involved in mediating fail-safe transcription termination by RNA polymerase II (Pol II), by cleaving intergenic stem-loop structures present downstream from Pol II transcription units. Many of these processing functions appear to be conserved in fungal species close to the Saccharomyces genus, and even in more distant eukaryotic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Roy
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Guillaume F Chanfreau
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
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17
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Blazeck J, Alper HS. Promoter engineering: Recent advances in controlling transcription at the most fundamental level. Biotechnol J 2012; 8:46-58. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.201200120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 237] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Revised: 06/25/2012] [Accepted: 07/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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18
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Blazeck J, Garg R, Reed B, Alper HS. Controlling promoter strength and regulation inSaccharomyces cerevisiaeusing synthetic hybrid promoters. Biotechnol Bioeng 2012; 109:2884-95. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.24552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 210] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2012] [Revised: 04/20/2012] [Accepted: 04/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Abstract
Over the past decade, synthetic biology has emerged as an engineering discipline for biological systems. Compared with other substrates, biology poses a unique set of engineering challenges resulting from an incomplete understanding of natural biological systems and tools for manipulating them. To address these challenges, synthetic biology is advancing from developing proof-of-concept designs to focusing on core platforms for rational and high-throughput biological engineering. These platforms span the entire biological design cycle, including DNA construction, parts libraries, computational design tools, and interfaces for manipulating and probing synthetic circuits. The development of these enabling technologies requires an engineering mindset to be applied to biology, with an emphasis on generalizable techniques in addition to application-specific designs. This review aims to discuss the progress and challenges in synthetic biology and to illustrate areas where synthetic biology may impact biomedical engineering and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen A Cheng
- Synthetic Biology Group, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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Chen YY, Galloway KE, Smolke CD. Synthetic biology: advancing biological frontiers by building synthetic systems. Genome Biol 2012; 13:240. [PMID: 22348749 PMCID: PMC3334564 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2012-13-2-240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in synthetic biology are contributing to diverse research areas, from basic biology to biomanufacturing and disease therapy. We discuss the theoretical foundation, applications, and potential of this emerging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Y Chen
- Society of Fellows, Harvard University, 78 Mount Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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Takano E, Bovenberg RAL, Breitling R. A turning point for natural product discovery--ESF-EMBO research conference: synthetic biology of antibiotic production. Mol Microbiol 2012; 83:884-93. [PMID: 22296491 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2012.07984.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic Biology is in a critical phase of its development: it has finally reached the point where it can move from proof-of-principle studies to real-world applications. Secondary metabolite biosynthesis, especially the discovery and production of antibiotics, is a particularly relevant target area for such applications of synthetic biology. The first international conference to explore this subject was held in Spain in October 2011. In four sessions on General Synthetic Biology, Filamentous Fungal Systems, Actinomyces Systems, and Tools and Host Structures, scientists presented the most recent technological and scientific advances, and a final-day Forward Look Plenary Discussion identified future trends in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eriko Takano
- Department of Microbial Physiology,Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborg 7, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Blount BA, Weenink T, Ellis T. Construction of synthetic regulatory networks in yeast. FEBS Lett 2012; 586:2112-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.01.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2011] [Revised: 01/25/2012] [Accepted: 01/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Siddiqui MS, Thodey K, Trenchard I, Smolke CD. Advancing secondary metabolite biosynthesis in yeast with synthetic biology tools. FEMS Yeast Res 2012; 12:144-70. [PMID: 22136110 DOI: 10.1111/j.1567-1364.2011.00774.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2011] [Revised: 11/18/2011] [Accepted: 11/19/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Secondary metabolites are an important source of high-value chemicals, many of which exhibit important pharmacological properties. These valuable natural products are often difficult to synthesize chemically and are commonly isolated through inefficient extractions from natural biological sources. As such, they are increasingly targeted for production by biosynthesis from engineered microorganisms. The budding yeast species Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proven to be a powerful microorganism for heterologous expression of biosynthetic pathways. S. cerevisiae's usefulness as a host organism is owed in large part to the wealth of knowledge accumulated over more than a century of intense scientific study. Yet many challenges are currently faced in engineering yeast strains for the biosynthesis of complex secondary metabolite production. However, synthetic biology is advancing the development of new tools for constructing, controlling, and optimizing complex metabolic pathways in yeast. Here, we review how the coupling between yeast biology and synthetic biology is advancing the use of S. cerevisiae as a microbial host for the construction of secondary metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Siddiqui
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Kim IK, Roldão A, Siewers V, Nielsen J. A systems-level approach for metabolic engineering of yeast cell factories. FEMS Yeast Res 2012; 12:228-48. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1567-1364.2011.00779.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2011] [Revised: 12/05/2011] [Accepted: 12/09/2011] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Il-Kwon Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Chalmers University of Technology; Gothenburg; Sweden
| | - António Roldão
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Chalmers University of Technology; Gothenburg; Sweden
| | - Verena Siewers
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Chalmers University of Technology; Gothenburg; Sweden
| | - Jens Nielsen
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Chalmers University of Technology; Gothenburg; Sweden
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