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Ko SC, Woo HM. CRISPR-dCas13a system for programmable small RNAs and polycistronic mRNA repression in bacteria. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:492-506. [PMID: 38015471 PMCID: PMC10783499 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1130] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs) function in post-transcriptional regulatory responses to environmental changes. However, the lack of eukaryotic RNA interference-like machinery in bacteria has limited the systematic engineering of RNA repression. Here, we report the development of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-guided dead CRIPSR-associated protein 13a (dCas13a) ribonucleoprotein that utilizes programmable CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) to repress trans-acting and cis-acting sRNA as the target, altering regulatory mechanisms and stress-related phenotypes. In addition, we implemented a modular loop engineering of the crRNA to promote modular repression of the target gene with 92% knockdown efficiency and a single base-pair mismatch specificity. With the engineered crRNAs, we achieved targetable single-gene repression in the polycistronic operon. For metabolic application, 102 crRNAs were constructed in the biofoundry and used for screening novel knockdown sRNA targets to improve lycopene (colored antioxidant) production in Escherichia coli. The CRISPR-dCas13a system will assist as a valuable systematic tool for the discovery of novel sRNAs and the fine-tuning of bacterial RNA repression in both scientific and industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Cheon Ko
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- BioFoundry Research Center, Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Han Min Woo
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- BioFoundry Research Center, Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Department of MetaBioHealth, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
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Hogan AM, Cardona ST. Gradients in gene essentiality reshape antibacterial research. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:fuac005. [PMID: 35104846 PMCID: PMC9075587 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Essential genes encode the processes that are necessary for life. Until recently, commonly applied binary classifications left no space between essential and non-essential genes. In this review, we frame bacterial gene essentiality in the context of genetic networks. We explore how the quantitative properties of gene essentiality are influenced by the nature of the encoded process, environmental conditions and genetic background, including a strain's distinct evolutionary history. The covered topics have important consequences for antibacterials, which inhibit essential processes. We argue that the quantitative properties of essentiality can thus be used to prioritize antibacterial cellular targets and desired spectrum of activity in specific infection settings. We summarize our points with a case study on the core essential genome of the cystic fibrosis pathobiome and highlight avenues for targeted antibacterial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Hogan
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, 45 Chancellor's Circle, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Silvia T Cardona
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, 45 Chancellor's Circle, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Room 543 - 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 0J9, Canada
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Srivastava SK, King KS, AbuSara NF, Malayny CJ, Piercey BM, Wilson JA, Tahlan K. In vivo functional analysis of a class A β-lactamase-related protein essential for clavulanic acid biosynthesis in Streptomyces clavuligerus. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215960. [PMID: 31013337 PMCID: PMC6478378 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In Streptomyces clavuligerus, the gene cluster involved in the biosynthesis of the clinically used β-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid contains a gene (orf12 or cpe) encoding a protein with a C-terminal class A β-lactamase-like domain. The cpe gene is essential for clavulanic acid production, and the recent crystal structure of its product (Cpe) was shown to also contain an N-terminal isomerase/cyclase-like domain, but the function of the protein remains unknown. In the current study, we show that Cpe is a cytoplasmic protein and that both its N- and C-terminal domains are required for in vivo clavulanic acid production in S. clavuligerus. Our results along with those from previous studies allude towards a biosynthetic role for Cpe during the later stages of clavulanic acid production in S. clavuligerus. Amino acids from Cpe essential for biosynthesis were also identified, including one (Lys89) from the recently described N-terminal isomerase-like domain of unknown function. Homologues of Cpe from other clavulanic acid-producing Streptomyces spp. were shown to be functionally equivalent to the S. clavuligerus protein, whereas those from non-producers containing clavulanic acid-like gene clusters were not. The suggested in vivo involvement of an isomerase-like domain recruited by an ancestral β-lactamase related protein, supports a previous hypothesis that Cpe could be involved in a step requiring the opening and modification of the clavulanic acid core during its biosynthesis from 5S precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kelcey S. King
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Nader F. AbuSara
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Chelsea J. Malayny
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Brandon M. Piercey
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Jaime A. Wilson
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
| | - Kapil Tahlan
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Cheng-Sánchez I, Carrillo P, Sánchez-Ruiz A, Martínez-Poveda B, Quesada AR, Medina MA, López-Romero JM, Sarabia F. Exploring the Ring-Closing Metathesis for the Construction of the Solomonamide Macrocyclic Core: Identification of Bioactive Precursors. J Org Chem 2018; 83:5365-5383. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.7b02988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Iván Cheng-Sánchez
- Department of Organic Chemistry; Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071, Malaga, Spain
| | - Paloma Carrillo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071, Malaga, Spain
| | - Antonio Sánchez-Ruiz
- Organic Chemistry Section, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda Dr. José María Sánchez Ibáñez s/n, 02008, Albacete, Spain
| | - Beatriz Martínez-Poveda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071, Malaga, Spain
| | - Ana R. Quesada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071, Malaga, Spain
| | - Miguel A. Medina
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071, Malaga, Spain
| | - Juan M. López-Romero
- Department of Organic Chemistry; Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071, Malaga, Spain
| | - Francisco Sarabia
- Department of Organic Chemistry; Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071, Malaga, Spain
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Hoynes-O’Connor A, Moon TS. Development of Design Rules for Reliable Antisense RNA Behavior in E. coli. ACS Synth Biol 2016; 5:1441-1454. [PMID: 27434774 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.6b00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A key driver of synthetic biology is the development of designable genetic parts with predictable behaviors that can be quickly implemented in complex genetic systems. However, the intrinsic complexity of gene regulation can make the rational design of genetic parts challenging. This challenge is apparent in the design of antisense RNA (asRNA) regulators. Though asRNAs are well-known regulators, the literature governing their design is conflicting and leaves the synthetic biology community without clear asRNA design rules. The goal of this study is to perform a comprehensive experimental characterization and statistical analysis of 121 unique asRNA regulators in order to resolve the conflicts that currently exist in the literature. asRNAs usually consist of two regions, the Hfq binding site and the target binding region (TBR). First, the behaviors of several high-performing Hfq binding sites were compared, in terms of their ability to improve repression efficiencies and their orthogonality. Next, a large-scale analysis of TBR design parameters identified asRNA length, the thermodynamics of asRNA-mRNA complex formation, and the percent of target mismatch as key parameters for TBR design. These parameters were used to develop simple asRNA design rules. Finally, these design rules were applied to construct both a simple and a complex genetic circuit containing different asRNAs, and predictable behavior was observed in both circuits. The results presented in this study will drive synthetic biology forward by providing useful design guidelines for the construction of asRNA regulators with predictable behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Hoynes-O’Connor
- Department
of Energy, Environmental
and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Tae Seok Moon
- Department
of Energy, Environmental
and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
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