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Zakaria FR, Chen CY, Li J, Wang S, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Redox active plant phenolic, acetosyringone, for electrogenetic signaling. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9666. [PMID: 38671069 PMCID: PMC11053109 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60191-7] [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: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Redox is a unique, programmable modality capable of bridging communication between biology and electronics. Previous studies have shown that the E. coli redox-responsive OxyRS regulon can be re-wired to accept electrochemically generated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an inducer of gene expression. Here we report that the redox-active phenolic plant signaling molecule acetosyringone (AS) can also induce gene expression from the OxyRS regulon. AS must be oxidized, however, as the reduced state present under normal conditions cannot induce gene expression. Thus, AS serves as a "pro-signaling molecule" that can be activated by its oxidation-in our case by application of oxidizing potential to an electrode. We show that the OxyRS regulon is not induced electrochemically if the imposed electrode potential is in the mid-physiological range. Electronically sliding the applied potential to either oxidative or reductive extremes induces this regulon but through different mechanisms: reduction of O2 to form H2O2 or oxidation of AS. Fundamentally, this work reinforces the emerging concept that redox signaling depends more on molecular activities than molecular structure. From an applications perspective, the creation of an electronically programmed "pro-signal" dramatically expands the toolbox for electronic control of biological responses in microbes, including in complex environments, cell-based materials, and biomanufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fauziah Rahma Zakaria
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Chen
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Jinyang Li
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Sally Wang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA.
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, MD, USA.
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
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Wang S, Chen CY, Rzasa JR, Tsao CY, Li J, VanArsdale E, Kim E, Zakaria FR, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Redox-enabled electronic interrogation and feedback control of hierarchical and networked biological systems. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8514. [PMID: 38129428 PMCID: PMC10739708 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44223-w] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Microelectronic devices can directly communicate with biology, as electronic information can be transmitted via redox reactions within biological systems. By engineering biology's native redox networks, we enable electronic interrogation and control of biological systems at several hierarchical levels: proteins, cells, and cell consortia. First, electro-biofabrication facilitates on-device biological component assembly. Then, electrode-actuated redox data transmission and redox-linked synthetic biology allows programming of enzyme activity and closed-loop electrogenetic control of cellular function. Specifically, horseradish peroxidase is assembled onto interdigitated electrodes where electrode-generated hydrogen peroxide controls its activity. E. coli's stress response regulon, oxyRS, is rewired to enable algorithm-based feedback control of gene expression, including an eCRISPR module that switches cell-cell quorum sensing communication from one autoinducer to another-creating an electronically controlled 'bilingual' cell. Then, these disparate redox-guided devices are wirelessly connected, enabling real-time communication and user-based control. We suggest these methodologies will help us to better understand and develop sophisticated control for biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Wang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Chen
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - John R Rzasa
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Jinyang Li
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Eric VanArsdale
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
- National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate, United States Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Eunkyoung Kim
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Fauziah Rahma Zakaria
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
- Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR), University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, USA.
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Chen N, Du N, Shen R, He T, Xi J, Tan J, Bian G, Yang Y, Liu T, Tan W, Yu L, Yuan Q. Redox signaling-driven modulation of microbial biosynthesis and biocatalysis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6800. [PMID: 37884498 PMCID: PMC10603113 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42561-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial communication can drive coordinated functions through sensing, analyzing and processing signal information, playing critical roles in biomanufacturing and life evolution. However, it is still a great challenge to develop effective methods to construct a microbial communication system with coordinated behaviors. Here, we report an electron transfer triggered redox communication network consisting of three building blocks including signal router, optical verifier and bio-actuator for microbial metabolism regulation and coordination. In the redox communication network, the Fe3+/Fe2+ redox signal can be dynamically and reversibly transduced, channeling electrons directly and specifically into bio-actuator cells through iron oxidation pathway. The redox communication network drives gene expression of electron transfer proteins and simultaneously facilitates the critical reducing power regeneration in the bio-actuator, thus enabling regulation of microbial metabolism. In this way, the redox communication system efficiently promotes the biomanufacturing yield and CO2 fixation rate of bio-actuator. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that this redox communication strategy is applicable both in co-culture and microbial consortia. The proposed electron transfer triggered redox communication strategy in this work could provide an approach for reducing power regeneration and metabolic optimization and could offer insights into improving biomanufacturing efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Chen
- Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Microelectronics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Na Du
- Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Microelectronics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Ruichen Shen
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, 410082, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Tianpei He
- Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Microelectronics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Jing Xi
- Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Microelectronics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Jie Tan
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, 410082, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Guangkai Bian
- Center for Materials Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 518055, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Yanbing Yang
- Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Microelectronics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Tiangang Liu
- Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Microelectronics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Weihong Tan
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, 410082, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Lilei Yu
- Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Microelectronics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, P. R. China.
| | - Quan Yuan
- Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Microelectronics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, P. R. China.
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, 410082, Changsha, P. R. China.
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Stephens K, Bentley WE. Quorum Sensing from Two Engineers’ Perspectives. Isr J Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ijch.202200083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Stephens
- Thayer School of Engineering Dartmouth College Hanover NH USA
- Center for Bioenergy Innovation Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge TN USA
| | - William E. Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering University of Maryland College Park MD USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research University of Maryland College Park MD USA [e]Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices University of Maryland College Park MD USA
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VanArsdale E, Pitzer J, Wang S, Stephens K, Chen CY, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Enhanced electrochemical measurement of β-galactosidase activity in whole cells by coexpression of lactose permease, LacY. Biotechniques 2022; 73:233-237. [DOI: 10.2144/btn-2022-0090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole-cell biosensing links the sensing and computing capabilities of microbes to the generation of a detectable reporter. Whole cells enable dynamic biological computation (filtered noise, amplified signals, logic gating etc.). Enzymatic reporters enable in situ signal amplification. Electrochemical measurements are easily quantified and work in turbid environments. In this work we show how the coexpression of the lactose permease, LacY, dramatically improves electrochemical sensing of β-galactosidase (LacZ) expressed as a reporter in whole cells. The permease facilitates transport of the LacZ substrate, 4-aminophenyl β-d-galactopyranoside, which is converted to redox active p-aminophenol, which, in turn, is detected via cyclic voltammetry or chronocoulometry. We show a greater than fourfold improvement enabled by lacY coexpression in cells engineered to respond to bacterial signal molecules, pyocyanin and quorum-sensing autoinducer-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric VanArsdale
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Juliana Pitzer
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Sally Wang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Kristina Stephens
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Chen-yu Chen
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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