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Zhao Z, You J, Shi X, Zhu R, Yang F, Xu M, Shao M, Zhang R, Zhao Y, Rao Z. Engineering Escherichia coli for l-Threonine Hyperproduction Based on Multidimensional Optimization Strategies. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 39356799 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c07607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
Exploring effective remodeling strategies to further improve the productivity of high-yield strains is the goal of biomanufacturing. However, the lack of insight into host-specific metabolic networks prevents timely identification of useful engineering targets. Here, multidimensional engineering strategies were implemented to optimize the global metabolic network for improving l-threonine production. First, the metabolic bottleneck for l-threonine synthesis was eliminated by synergistic utilization of NADH and an enhanced ATP supply. Carbon fluxes were redistributed into the TCA cycle by rationally regulating the GltA activity. Subsequently, the stress global response regulator UspA was identified to enhance l-threonine production by a transcriptomic analysis. Then, l-threonine productivity was improved by enhancing the host's stress resistance and releasing the inhibitory reaction of glucose utilization. Eventually, the l-threonine yield of THRH16 reached 170.3 g/L and 3.78 g/L/h in a 5 L bioreactor, which is the highest production index reported. This study provides rational guidance for increasing the productivity of other chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenqiang Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- Institute of Future Food Technology, Yixing, JITRI 214200, China
| | - Jiajia You
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- Institute of Future Food Technology, Yixing, JITRI 214200, China
| | - Xuanping Shi
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- Institute of Future Food Technology, Yixing, JITRI 214200, China
| | - Rongshuai Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- Institute of Future Food Technology, Yixing, JITRI 214200, China
| | - Fengyu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- Institute of Future Food Technology, Yixing, JITRI 214200, China
| | - Meijuan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- Institute of Future Food Technology, Yixing, JITRI 214200, China
| | - Minglong Shao
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- Institute of Future Food Technology, Yixing, JITRI 214200, China
| | - Rongzhen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Youxi Zhao
- College of Biochemical Engineering, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100023, China
| | - Zhiming Rao
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- Institute of Future Food Technology, Yixing, JITRI 214200, China
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Sun MS, Jia Y, Chen XY, Chen JS, Guo Y, Fu FF, Xue LJ. Regulatory microRNAs and phasiRNAs of paclitaxel biosynthesis in Taxus chinensis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1403060. [PMID: 38779066 PMCID: PMC11109412 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1403060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Paclitaxel (trade name Taxol) is a rare diterpenoid with anticancer activity isolated from Taxus. At present, paclitaxel is mainly produced by the semi-synthetic method using extract of Taxus tissues as raw materials. The studies of regulatory mechanisms in paclitaxel biosynthesis would promote the production of paclitaxel through tissue/cell culture approaches. Here, we systematically identified 990 transcription factors (TFs), 460 microRNAs (miRNAs), and 160 phased small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs) in Taxus chinensis to explore their interactions and potential roles in regulation of paclitaxel synthesis. The expression levels of enzyme genes in cone and root were higher than those in leaf and bark. Nearly all enzyme genes in the paclitaxel synthesis pathway were significantly up-regulated after jasmonate treatment, except for GGPPS and CoA Ligase. The expression level of enzyme genes located in the latter steps of the synthesis pathway was significantly higher in female barks than in male. Regulatory TFs were inferred through co-expression network analysis, resulting in the identification of TFs from diverse families including MYB and AP2. Genes with ADP binding and copper ion binding functions were overrepresented in targets of miRNA genes. The miRNA targets were mainly enriched with genes in plant hormone signal transduction, mRNA surveillance pathway, cell cycle and DNA replication. Genes in oxidoreductase activity, protein-disulfide reductase activity were enriched in targets of phasiRNAs. Regulatory networks were further constructed including components of enzyme genes, TFs, miRNAs, and phasiRNAs. The hierarchical regulation of paclitaxel production by miRNAs and phasiRNAs indicates a robust regulation at post-transcriptional level. Our study on transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of paclitaxel synthesis provides clues for enhancing paclitaxel production using synthetic biology technology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Fang-Fang Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Biotechnology of Educational Department of China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Liang-Jiao Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Biotechnology of Educational Department of China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
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3
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Lu M, Sha Y, Kumar V, Xu Z, Zhai R, Jin M. Transcription factor-based biosensor: A molecular-guided approach for advanced biofuel synthesis. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 72:108339. [PMID: 38508427 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
As a sustainable and renewable alternative to petroleum fuels, advanced biofuels shoulder the responsibility of energy saving, emission reduction and environmental protection. Traditional engineering of cell factories for production of advanced biofuels lacks efficient high-throughput screening tools and regulating systems, impeding the improvement of cellular productivity and yield. Transcription factor-based biosensors have been widely applied to monitor and regulate microbial cell factory products due to the advantages of fast detection and in-situ screening. This review updates the design and application of transcription factor-based biosensors tailored for advanced biofuels and related intermediates. The construction and genetic parts selection principle of biosensors are discussed. Strategies to enhance the performance of biosensor, including regulating promoter strength and RBS strength, optimizing plasmid copy number, implementing genetic amplifier, and modulating the structure of transcription factor, have also been summarized. We further review the application of biosensors in high-throughput screening of new metabolic engineering targets, evolution engineering, confirmation of protein function, and dynamic regulation of metabolic flux for higher production of advanced biofuels. At last, we discuss the current limitations and future trends of transcription factor-based biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minrui Lu
- School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China; Biorefinery Research Institution, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
| | - Yuanyuan Sha
- School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China; Biorefinery Research Institution, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
| | - Vinod Kumar
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, United Kingdom
| | - Zhaoxian Xu
- School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China; Biorefinery Research Institution, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
| | - Rui Zhai
- School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China; Biorefinery Research Institution, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
| | - Mingjie Jin
- School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China; Biorefinery Research Institution, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
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4
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Li Y, Lucci T, Dujovne MV, Jung JK, Capdevila DA, Lucks JB. Engineering a cell-free biosensor signal amplification circuit with polymerase strand recycling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.25.591074. [PMID: 38712145 PMCID: PMC11071457 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.25.591074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Cell-free systems are powerful synthetic biology technologies because of their ability to recapitulate sensing and gene expression without the complications of living cells. Cell-free systems can perform even more advanced functions when genetic circuits are incorporated as information processing components. Here we expand cell-free biosensing by engineering a highly specific isothermal signal amplification circuit called polymerase strand recycling (PSR) that leverages T7 RNA polymerase off-target transcription to recycle nucleic acid inputs within DNA strand displacement circuits. We develop design rules for PSR circuit components and use these rules to construct modular biosensors that can directly sense different RNA targets with limits of detection in the nM range and high specificity. We then use PSR for signal amplification within allosteric transcription factor-based biosensors for small molecule detection. We use a double equilibrium model of transcription factor:DNA and transcription factor:ligand binding interactions to predict biosensor sensitivity enhancement by PSR, and then demonstrate this approach experimentally by achieving 3.6-4.6-fold decreases in biosensor EC50 to sub micromolar ranges. We believe this work expands the current capabilities of cell-free circuits by incorporating PSR, which we anticipate will have a wide range of uses within biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueyi Li
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | - Tyler Lucci
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | | | - Jaeyoung Kirsten Jung
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
| | | | - Julius B. Lucks
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
- Interdiscipinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
- Center for Water Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
- Center for Engineering Sustainability and Resilience, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
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5
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Orsi E, Schada von Borzyskowski L, Noack S, Nikel PI, Lindner SN. Automated in vivo enzyme engineering accelerates biocatalyst optimization. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3447. [PMID: 38658554 PMCID: PMC11043082 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46574-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Achieving cost-competitive bio-based processes requires development of stable and selective biocatalysts. Their realization through in vitro enzyme characterization and engineering is mostly low throughput and labor-intensive. Therefore, strategies for increasing throughput while diminishing manual labor are gaining momentum, such as in vivo screening and evolution campaigns. Computational tools like machine learning further support enzyme engineering efforts by widening the explorable design space. Here, we propose an integrated solution to enzyme engineering challenges whereby ML-guided, automated workflows (including library generation, implementation of hypermutation systems, adapted laboratory evolution, and in vivo growth-coupled selection) could be realized to accelerate pipelines towards superior biocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Orsi
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Stephan Noack
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Pablo I Nikel
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Steffen N Lindner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany.
- Department of Biochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
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6
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Nishikawa KK, Chen J, Acheson JF, Harbaugh SV, Huss P, Frenkel M, Novy N, Sieren HR, Lodewyk EC, Lee DH, Chávez JL, Fox BG, Raman S. Highly multiplexed design of an allosteric transcription factor to sense novel ligands. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.07.583947. [PMID: 38496486 PMCID: PMC10942455 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.07.583947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Allosteric transcription factors (aTF), widely used as biosensors, have proven challenging to design for detecting novel molecules because mutation of ligand-binding residues often disrupts allostery. We developed Sensor-seq, a high-throughput platform to design and identify aTF biosensors that bind to non-native ligands. We screened a library of 17,737 variants of the aTF TtgR, a regulator of a multidrug exporter, against six non-native ligands of diverse chemical structures - four derivatives of the cancer therapeutic tamoxifen, the antimalarial drug quinine, and the opiate analog naltrexone - as well as two native flavonoid ligands, naringenin and phloretin. Sensor-seq identified novel biosensors for each of these ligands with high dynamic range and diverse specificity profiles. The structure of a naltrexone-bound design showed shape-complementary methionine-aromatic interactions driving ligand specificity. To demonstrate practical utility, we developed cell-free detection systems for naltrexone and quinine. Sensor-seq enables rapid, scalable design of new biosensors, overcoming constraints of natural biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle K Nishikawa
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jackie Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Justin F Acheson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Svetlana V Harbaugh
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH, USA
| | - Phil Huss
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Max Frenkel
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Nathan Novy
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Hailey R Sieren
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ella C Lodewyk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Daniel H Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jorge L Chávez
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH, USA
| | - Brian G Fox
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Srivatsan Raman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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7
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Mao Y, Huang C, Zhou X, Han R, Deng Y, Zhou S. Genetically Encoded Biosensor Engineering for Application in Directed Evolution. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 33:1257-1267. [PMID: 37449325 PMCID: PMC10619561 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2304.04031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Although rational genetic engineering is nowadays the favored method for microbial strain improvement, building up mutant libraries based on directed evolution for improvement is still in many cases the better option. In this regard, the demand for precise and efficient screening methods for mutants with high performance has stimulated the development of biosensor-based high-throughput screening strategies. Genetically encoded biosensors provide powerful tools to couple the desired phenotype to a detectable signal, such as fluorescence and growth rate. Herein, we review recent advances in engineering several classes of biosensors and their applications in directed evolution. Furthermore, we compare and discuss the screening advantages and limitations of two-component biosensors, transcription-factor-based biosensors, and RNA-based biosensors. Engineering these biosensors has focused mainly on modifying the expression level or structure of the biosensor components to optimize the dynamic range, specificity, and detection range. Finally, the applications of biosensors in the evolution of proteins, metabolic pathways, and genome-scale metabolic networks are described. This review provides potential guidance in the design of biosensors and their applications in improving the bioproduction of microbial cell factories through directed evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Mao
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
- Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Chao Huang
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
- Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Xuan Zhou
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
- Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Runhua Han
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Yu Deng
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
- Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Shenghu Zhou
- National Engineering Research Center for Cereal Fermentation and Food Biomanufacturing, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
- Jiangsu Provincial Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
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Paliya BS, Sharma VK, Tuohy MG, Singh HB, Koffas M, Benhida R, Tiwari BK, Kalaskar DM, Singh BN, Gupta VK. Bacterial glycobiotechnology: A biosynthetic route for the production of biopharmaceutical glycans. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 67:108180. [PMID: 37236328 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The recent advancement in the human glycome and progress in the development of an inclusive network of glycosylation pathways allow the incorporation of suitable machinery for protein modification in non-natural hosts and explore novel opportunities for constructing next-generation tailored glycans and glycoconjugates. Fortunately, the emerging field of bacterial metabolic engineering has enabled the production of tailored biopolymers by harnessing living microbial factories (prokaryotes) as whole-cell biocatalysts. Microbial catalysts offer sophisticated means to develop a variety of valuable polysaccharides in bulk quantities for practical clinical applications. Glycans production through this technique is highly efficient and cost-effective, as it does not involve expensive initial materials. Metabolic glycoengineering primarily focuses on utilizing small metabolite molecules to alter biosynthetic pathways, optimization of cellular processes for glycan and glycoconjugate production, characteristic to a specific organism to produce interest tailored glycans in microbes, using preferably cheap and simple substrate. However, metabolic engineering faces one of the unique challenges, such as the need for an enzyme to catalyze desired substrate conversion when natural native substrates are already present. So, in metabolic engineering, such challenges are evaluated, and different strategies have been developed to overcome them. The generation of glycans and glycoconjugates via metabolic intermediate pathways can still be supported by glycol modeling achieved through metabolic engineering. It is evident that modern glycans engineering requires adoption of improved strain engineering strategies for creating competent glycoprotein expression platforms in bacterial hosts, in the future. These strategies include logically designing and introducing orthogonal glycosylation pathways, identifying metabolic engineering targets at the genome level, and strategically improving pathway performance (for example, through genetic modification of pathway enzymes). Here, we highlight current strategies, applications, and recent progress in metabolic engineering for producing high-value tailored glycans and their applications in biotherapeutics and diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balwant S Paliya
- Herbal Nanobiotechnology Lab, Pharmacology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India
| | - Vivek K Sharma
- Herbal Nanobiotechnology Lab, Pharmacology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India
| | - Maria G Tuohy
- Biochemistry, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Science & Engineering, University of Galway (Ollscoil na Gaillimhe), University Road, Galway City, Ireland
| | - Harikesh B Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, GLA University, Mathura 281406, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mattheos Koffas
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
| | - Rachid Benhida
- Institut de Chimie de Nice, UMR7272, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France; Mohamed VI Polytechnic University, Lot 660, Hay Moulay Rachid 43150, Benguerir, Morocco
| | | | - Deepak M Kalaskar
- UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, Royal Free Hospital Campus, University College London, Rowland Hill Street, NW3 2PF, UK
| | - Brahma N Singh
- Herbal Nanobiotechnology Lab, Pharmacology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India.
| | - Vijai K Gupta
- Biorefining and Advanced Materials Research Centre, SRUC, Barony Campus, Parkgate, Dumfries DG1 3NE, United Kingdom.
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Li Y, Wang J, Li L, Song W, Li M, Hua X, Wang Y, Yuan J, Xue Z. Natural products of pentacyclic triterpenoids: from discovery to heterologous biosynthesis. Nat Prod Rep 2023; 40:1303-1353. [PMID: 36454108 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00063f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Covering: up to 2022Pentacyclic triterpenoids are important natural bioactive substances that are widely present in plants and fungi. They have significant medicinal efficacy, play an important role in reducing blood glucose and protecting the liver, and have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-fatigue, anti-viral, and anti-cancer activities. Pentacyclic triterpenoids are derived from the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway, which generates common precursors of triterpenes and steroids, followed by cyclization with oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) and decoration via cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP450s) and glycosyltransferases (GTs). Many biosynthetic pathways of triterpenoid saponins have been elucidated by studying their metabolic regulation network through the use of multiomics and identifying their functional genes. Unfortunately, natural resources of pentacyclic triterpenoids are limited due to their low content in plant tissues and the long growth cycle of plants. Based on the understanding of their biosynthetic pathway and transcriptional regulation, plant bioreactors and microbial cell factories are emerging as alternative means for the synthesis of desired triterpenoid saponins. The rapid development of synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and fermentation technology has broadened channels for the accumulation of pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins. In this review, we summarize the classification, distribution, structural characteristics, and bioactivity of pentacyclic triterpenoids. We further discuss the biosynthetic pathways of pentacyclic triterpenoids and involved transcriptional regulation. Moreover, the recent progress and characteristics of heterologous biosynthesis in plants and microbial cell factories are discussed comparatively. Finally, we propose potential strategies to improve the accumulation of triterpenoid saponins, thereby providing a guide for their future biomanufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlin Li
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Jing Wang
- Institute of Forestry and Pomology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Linyong Li
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Wenhui Song
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Min Li
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Xin Hua
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Yu Wang
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.
| | - Jifeng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Fujian, PR China.
| | - Zheyong Xue
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China
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10
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Quantitative Methods for Metabolite Analysis in Metabolic Engineering. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12257-022-0200-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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11
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Joshi SHN, Yong C, Gyorgy A. Inducible plasmid copy number control for synthetic biology in commonly used E. coli strains. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6691. [PMID: 36335103 PMCID: PMC9637173 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34390-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to externally control gene expression has been paradigm shifting for all areas of biological research, especially for synthetic biology. Such control typically occurs at the transcriptional and translational level, while technologies enabling control at the DNA copy level are limited by either (i) relying on a handful of plasmids with fixed and arbitrary copy numbers; or (ii) require multiple plasmids for replication control; or (iii) are restricted to specialized strains. To overcome these limitations, we present TULIP (TUnable Ligand Inducible Plasmid): a self-contained plasmid with inducible copy number control, designed for portability across various Escherichia coli strains commonly used for cloning, protein expression, and metabolic engineering. Using TULIP, we demonstrate through multiple application examples that flexible plasmid copy number control accelerates the design and optimization of gene circuits, enables efficient probing of metabolic burden, and facilitates the prototyping and recycling of modules in different genetic contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivang Hina-Nilesh Joshi
- grid.440573.10000 0004 1755 5934Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Chentao Yong
- grid.440573.10000 0004 1755 5934Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates ,grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University, New York, NY USA
| | - Andras Gyorgy
- grid.440573.10000 0004 1755 5934Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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12
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Sørensen M, Andersen-Ranberg J, Hankamer B, Møller BL. Circular biomanufacturing through harvesting solar energy and CO 2. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 27:655-673. [PMID: 35396170 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Using synthetic biology, it is now time to expand the biosynthetic repertoire of plants and microalgae by utilizing the chloroplast to augment the production of desired high-value compounds and of oil-, carbohydrate-, or protein-enriched biomass based on direct harvesting of solar energy and the consumption of CO2. Multistream product lines based on separate commercialization of the isolated high-value compounds and of the improved bulk products increase the economic potential of the light-driven production system and accelerate commercial scale up. Here we outline the scientific basis for the establishment of such green circular biomanufacturing systems and highlight recent results that make this a realistic option based on cross-disciplinary basic and applied research to advance long-term solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Sørensen
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Johan Andersen-Ranberg
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ben Hankamer
- Institute of Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Birger Lindberg Møller
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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13
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Perkins ML, Gandara L, Crocker J. A synthetic synthesis to explore animal evolution and development. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20200517. [PMID: 35634925 PMCID: PMC9149795 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying the general principles by which genotypes are converted into phenotypes remains a challenge in the post-genomic era. We still lack a predictive understanding of how genes shape interactions among cells and tissues in response to signalling and environmental cues, and hence how regulatory networks generate the phenotypic variation required for adaptive evolution. Here, we discuss how techniques borrowed from synthetic biology may facilitate a systematic exploration of evolvability across biological scales. Synthetic approaches permit controlled manipulation of both endogenous and fully engineered systems, providing a flexible platform for investigating causal mechanisms in vivo. Combining synthetic approaches with multi-level phenotyping (phenomics) will supply a detailed, quantitative characterization of how internal and external stimuli shape the morphology and behaviour of living organisms. We advocate integrating high-throughput experimental data with mathematical and computational techniques from a variety of disciplines in order to pursue a comprehensive theory of evolution. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Genetic basis of adaptation and speciation: from loci to causative mutations’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mindy Liu Perkins
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lautaro Gandara
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Justin Crocker
- Developmental Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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14
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Li J, Nina MRH, Zhang X, Bai Y. Engineering Transcription Factor XylS for Sensing Phthalic Acid and Terephthalic Acid: An Application for Enzyme Evolution. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:1106-1113. [PMID: 35192317 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and phthalate esters (PAEs) are used extensively as plastics and plasticizers. Enzymatic degradation of PET and PAEs has drawn great attention in recent years; however, evolution of PET- and PAE-degrading enzymes is still a big challenge, partly because of the lack of an effective screening method to detect phthalic acid (PA) and terephthalic acid (TPA), which are the main hydrolysis products of PAEs and PET. Here, by directed evolution of a promiscuous transcription factor, XylS from Pseudomonas putida, we created two novel variants, XylS-K38R-L224Q and XylS-W88C-L224Q, that are able to bind PA and TPA and activate the downstream expression of a fluorescent reporter protein. Based on these elements, whole-cell biosensors were constructed, which enabled the fluorimetric detection of as little as 10 μM PA or TPA. A PAE hydrolase, GoEst15, was preliminarily engineered using this new biosensor, yielding a mutant GoEst15-V3 whose activity toward dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and p-nitrophenyl butyrate was enhanced 2.0- and 2.5-fold, respectively. It was shown that 96.5% DBP (5 mM) was degraded by GoEst15-V3 in 60 min, while the wild-type enzyme degraded only 55% DBP. This study provides an effective screening tool for directed evolution of PAE-/PET-degrading enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Mario Roque Huanca Nina
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yunpeng Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
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15
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Refactoring transcription factors for metabolic engineering. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 57:107935. [PMID: 35271945 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Due to the ability to regulate target metabolic pathways globally and dynamically, metabolic regulation systems composed of transcription factors have been widely used in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. This review introduced the categories, action principles, prediction strategies, and related databases of transcription factors. Then, the application of global transcription machinery engineering technology and the transcription factor-based biosensors and quorum sensing systems are overviewed. In addition, strategies for optimizing the transcriptional regulatory tools' performance by refactoring transcription factors are summarized. Finally, the current limitations and prospects of constructing various regulatory tools based on transcription factors are discussed. This review will provide theoretical guidance for the rational design and construction of transcription factor-based metabolic regulation systems.
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16
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Tabuchi T, Yokobayashi Y. High-throughput screening of cell-free riboswitches by fluorescence-activated droplet sorting. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:3535-3550. [PMID: 35253887 PMCID: PMC8989549 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free systems that display complex functions without using living cells are emerging as new platforms to test our understanding of biological systems as well as for practical applications such as biosensors and biomanufacturing. Those that use cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems to enable genetically programmed protein synthesis have relied on genetic regulatory components found or engineered in living cells. However, biological constraints such as cell permeability, metabolic stability, and toxicity of signaling molecules prevent development of cell-free devices using living cells even if cell-free systems are not subject to such constraints. Efforts to engineer regulatory components directly in CFPS systems thus far have been based on low-throughput experimental approaches, limiting the availability of basic components to build cell-free systems with diverse functions. Here, we report a high-throughput screening method to engineer cell-free riboswitches that respond to small molecules. Droplet-sorting of riboswitch variants in a CFPS system rapidly identified cell-free riboswitches that respond to compounds that are not amenable to bacterial screening methods. Finally, we used a histamine riboswitch to demonstrate chemical communication between cell-sized droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Tabuchi
- Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Engineering Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Yohei Yokobayashi
- Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Engineering Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
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17
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Femerling G, Gama-Castro S, Lara P, Ledezma-Tejeida D, Tierrafría VH, Muñiz-Rascado L, Bonavides-Martínez C, Collado-Vides J. Sensory Systems and Transcriptional Regulation in Escherichia coli. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:823240. [PMID: 35237580 PMCID: PMC8882922 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.823240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In free-living bacteria, the ability to regulate gene expression is at the core of adapting and interacting with the environment. For these systems to have a logic, a signal must trigger a genetic change that helps the cell to deal with what implies its presence in the environment; briefly, the response is expected to include a feedback to the signal. Thus, it makes sense to think of genetic sensory mechanisms of gene regulation. Escherichia coli K-12 is the bacterium model for which the largest number of regulatory systems and its sensing capabilities have been studied in detail at the molecular level. In this special issue focused on biomolecular sensing systems, we offer an overview of the transcriptional regulatory corpus of knowledge for E. coli that has been gathered in our database, RegulonDB, from the perspective of sensing regulatory systems. Thus, we start with the beginning of the information flux, which is the signal's chemical or physical elements detected by the cell as changes in the environment; these signals are internally transduced to transcription factors and alter their conformation. Signals transduced to effectors bind allosterically to transcription factors, and this defines the dominant sensing mechanism in E. coli. We offer an updated list of the repertoire of known allosteric effectors, as well as a list of the currently known different mechanisms of this sensing capability. Our previous definition of elementary genetic sensory-response units, GENSOR units for short, that integrate signals, transport, gene regulation, and the biochemical response of the regulated gene products of a given transcriptional factor fit perfectly with the purpose of this overview. We summarize the functional heterogeneity of their response, based on our updated collection of GENSORs, and we use them to identify the expected feedback as part of their response. Finally, we address the question of multiple sensing in the regulatory network of E. coli. This overview introduces the architecture of sensing and regulation of native components in E.coli K-12, which might be a source of inspiration to bioengineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgette Femerling
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Socorro Gama-Castro
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Paloma Lara
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | | | - Víctor H. Tierrafría
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Luis Muñiz-Rascado
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | | | - Julio Collado-Vides
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
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18
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Augustiniene E, Malys N. Identification and characterization of L- and D-lactate-inducible systems from Escherichia coli MG1655, Cupriavidus necator H16 and Pseudomonas species. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2123. [PMID: 35136142 PMCID: PMC8827060 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06028-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Lactic acid is an important platform chemical used for the production of various compounds including polylactic acid (PLA). Optically pure L- and D-lactic acids are required to obtain high quality PLA. To advance the development and selection of microbial strains for improved production of lactic acid enantiomers, a high-throughput screening, dynamic pathway control, or real-time monitoring are often applied. Inducible gene expression systems and their application in the genetically encoded biosensors contribute to the development of these techniques and are important devices for the advancement of lactic acid biotechnology. Here, we identify and characterize eleven lactate-inducible systems from Escherichia coli, Cupriavidus necator, and Pseudomonas spp. The specificity and dynamics of these systems in response to L- and D-lactate, or structurally similar compounds are investigated. We demonstrate that the inducible systems EcLldR/PlldP and CnGntR/PH16_RS19190 respond only to the L-lactate, exhibiting approximately 19- and 24-fold induction, respectively. Despite neither of the examined bacteria possess the D-lactate-specific inducible system, the PaPdhR/PlldP and PfPdhR/PlldP are induced approximately 37- and 366-fold, respectively, by D-lactate and can be used for developing biosensor with improved specificity. The findings of this study provide an insight into understanding of L- and D-lactate-inducible systems that can be employed as sensing and tuneable devices in synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesta Augustiniene
- Bioprocess Research Centre, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilėnų pl. 19, Kaunas, LT-50254, Lithuania
| | - Naglis Malys
- Bioprocess Research Centre, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilėnų pl. 19, Kaunas, LT-50254, Lithuania. .,Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilėnų pl. 19, Kaunas, LT-50254, Lithuania.
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19
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Santin A, Russo MT, Ferrante MI, Balzano S, Orefice I, Sardo A. Highly Valuable Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from Microalgae: Strategies to Improve Their Yields and Their Potential Exploitation in Aquaculture. Molecules 2021; 26:7697. [PMID: 34946780 PMCID: PMC8707597 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26247697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Microalgae have a great potential for the production of healthy food and feed supplements. Their ability to convert carbon into high-value compounds and to be cultured in large scale without interfering with crop cultivation makes these photosynthetic microorganisms promising for the sustainable production of lipids. In particular, microalgae represent an alternative source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), whose consumption is related to various health benefits for humans and animals. In recent years, several strategies to improve PUFAs' production in microalgae have been investigated. Such strategies include selecting the best performing species and strains and the optimization of culturing conditions, with special emphasis on the different cultivation systems and the effect of different abiotic factors on PUFAs' accumulation in microalgae. Moreover, developments and results obtained through the most modern genetic and metabolic engineering techniques are described, focusing on the strategies that lead to an increased lipid production or an altered PUFAs' profile. Additionally, we provide an overview of biotechnological applications of PUFAs derived from microalgae as safe and sustainable organisms, such as aquafeed and food ingredients, and of the main techniques (and their related issues) for PUFAs' extraction and purification from microalgal biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Santin
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy; (A.S.); (M.T.R.); (S.B.); (I.O.)
| | - Monia Teresa Russo
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy; (A.S.); (M.T.R.); (S.B.); (I.O.)
| | - Maria Immacolata Ferrante
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy; (A.S.); (M.T.R.); (S.B.); (I.O.)
| | - Sergio Balzano
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy; (A.S.); (M.T.R.); (S.B.); (I.O.)
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Netherland Institute for Sea Research, Landsdiep 4, 1793 AB Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Ida Orefice
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy; (A.S.); (M.T.R.); (S.B.); (I.O.)
| | - Angela Sardo
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy; (A.S.); (M.T.R.); (S.B.); (I.O.)
- Istituto di Scienze Applicate e Sistemi Intelligenti “Eduardo Caianiello”, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
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20
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Munro LJ, Kell DB. Intelligent host engineering for metabolic flux optimisation in biotechnology. Biochem J 2021; 478:3685-3721. [PMID: 34673920 PMCID: PMC8589332 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Optimising the function of a protein of length N amino acids by directed evolution involves navigating a 'search space' of possible sequences of some 20N. Optimising the expression levels of P proteins that materially affect host performance, each of which might also take 20 (logarithmically spaced) values, implies a similar search space of 20P. In this combinatorial sense, then, the problems of directed protein evolution and of host engineering are broadly equivalent. In practice, however, they have different means for avoiding the inevitable difficulties of implementation. The spare capacity exhibited in metabolic networks implies that host engineering may admit substantial increases in flux to targets of interest. Thus, we rehearse the relevant issues for those wishing to understand and exploit those modern genome-wide host engineering tools and thinking that have been designed and developed to optimise fluxes towards desirable products in biotechnological processes, with a focus on microbial systems. The aim throughput is 'making such biology predictable'. Strategies have been aimed at both transcription and translation, especially for regulatory processes that can affect multiple targets. However, because there is a limit on how much protein a cell can produce, increasing kcat in selected targets may be a better strategy than increasing protein expression levels for optimal host engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan J. Munro
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Building 220, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Douglas B. Kell
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Building 220, Kemitorvet, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K
- Mellizyme Biotechnology Ltd, IC1, Liverpool Science Park, 131 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5TF, U.K
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21
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Shenshin VA, Lescanne C, Gines G, Rondelez Y. A small-molecule chemical interface for molecular programs. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:7765-7774. [PMID: 34223901 PMCID: PMC8287923 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro molecular circuits, based on DNA-programmable chemistries, can perform an increasing range of high-level functions, such as molecular level computation, image or chemical pattern recognition and pattern generation. Most reported demonstrations, however, can only accept nucleic acids as input signals. Real-world applications of these programmable chemistries critically depend on strategies to interface them with a variety of non-DNA inputs, in particular small biologically relevant chemicals. We introduce here a general strategy to interface DNA-based circuits with non-DNA signals, based on input-translating modules. These translating modules contain a DNA response part and an allosteric protein sensing part, and use a simple design that renders them fully tunable and modular. They can be repurposed to either transmit or invert the response associated with the presence of a given input. By combining these translating-modules with robust and leak-free amplification motifs, we build sensing circuits that provide a fluorescent quantitative time-response to the concentration of their small-molecule input, with good specificity and sensitivity. The programmability of the DNA layer can be leveraged to perform DNA based signal processing operations, which we demonstrate here with logical inversion, signal modulation and a classification task on two inputs. The DNA circuits are also compatible with standard biochemical conditions, and we show the one-pot detection of an enzyme through its native metabolic activity. We anticipate that this sensitive small-molecule-to-DNA conversion strategy will play a critical role in the future applications of molecular-level circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasily A Shenshin
- Laboratoire Gulliver, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 10 rue Vauquelin 75005 Paris, France
| | - Camille Lescanne
- Laboratoire Gulliver, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 10 rue Vauquelin 75005 Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Gines
- Laboratoire Gulliver, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 10 rue Vauquelin 75005 Paris, France
| | - Yannick Rondelez
- Laboratoire Gulliver, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 10 rue Vauquelin 75005 Paris, France
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22
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Sørensen M, Møller BL. Metabolic Engineering of Photosynthetic Cells – in Collaboration with Nature. Metab Eng 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/9783527823468.ch21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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23
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Wang Y, Xue P, Cao M, Yu T, Lane ST, Zhao H. Directed Evolution: Methodologies and Applications. Chem Rev 2021; 121:12384-12444. [PMID: 34297541 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Directed evolution aims to expedite the natural evolution process of biological molecules and systems in a test tube through iterative rounds of gene diversifications and library screening/selection. It has become one of the most powerful and widespread tools for engineering improved or novel functions in proteins, metabolic pathways, and even whole genomes. This review describes the commonly used gene diversification strategies, screening/selection methods, and recently developed continuous evolution strategies for directed evolution. Moreover, we highlight some representative applications of directed evolution in engineering nucleic acids, proteins, pathways, genetic circuits, viruses, and whole cells. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future perspectives in directed evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Pu Xue
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Mingfeng Cao
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Tianhao Yu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Stephan T Lane
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Huimin Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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24
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Nanoparticle-based fluorescence probe for detection of NF-κB transcription factor in single cell via steric hindrance. Mikrochim Acta 2021; 188:226. [PMID: 34106343 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-021-04878-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
A novel nanoparticle-based fluorescence probe was developed for NF-κB transcription factor detection and in situ imaging via steric hindrance. The probe contains gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to quench fluorescence, and nucleic acids immobilized on the surface of AuNPs to output fluorescence. In the basal state, Cy5 labeled DNA1 folds its long chain into a hairpin structure and quenches fluorescence by forcing the Cy5 fluorophore close to the surface of AuNPs. After the probe enters the cell, the NF-κB transcription factor can bind to the κB site in the DNA duplex of the nucleic acids. The steric hindrance caused by NF-κB leads to the extension of the long chain of DNA1 and the removal of the Cy5 fluorophore from the surface of AuNPs, thereby restoring the fluorescence of the probe. By measuring NF-κB in cell lysis in vitro, the probe obtains a detection limit of 0.38 nM and the linear range from 0.5 to 16 nM. Repeated measurements showed the recovery in the cell nuclear extract was between 93.38 and 109.32%, with relative standard deviation less than 5%. By monitoring the sub-localization of the Cy5 fluorophore in single cell, the probe system can effectively distinguish active NF-κB (nucleus) and inactive NF-κB (cytoplasm) through in situ imaging. The well-designed probe will make up for the shortcomings of the existing technology, and reveal the regulatory role of transcription factors in many disease processes.
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Liu ZX, Huang SL, Hou J, Guo XP, Wang FS, Sheng JZ. Cell-based high-throughput screening of polysaccharide biosynthesis hosts. Microb Cell Fact 2021; 20:62. [PMID: 33663495 PMCID: PMC7934428 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-021-01555-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Valuable polysaccharides are usually produced using wild-type or metabolically-engineered host microbial strains through fermentation. These hosts act as cell factories that convert carbohydrates, such as monosaccharides or starch, into bioactive polysaccharides. It is desirable to develop effective in vivo high-throughput approaches to screen cells that display high-level synthesis of the desired polysaccharides. Uses of single or dual fluorophore labeling, fluorescence quenching, or biosensors are effective strategies for cell sorting of a library that can be applied during the domestication of industrial engineered strains and metabolic pathway optimization of polysaccharide synthesis in engineered cells. Meanwhile, high-throughput screening strategies using each individual whole cell as a sorting section are playing growing roles in the discovery and directed evolution of enzymes involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis, such as glycosyltransferases. These enzymes and their mutants are in high demand as tool catalysts for synthesis of saccharides in vitro and in vivo. This review provides an introduction to the methodologies of using cell-based high-throughput screening for desired polysaccharide-biosynthesizing cells, followed by a brief discussion of potential applications of these approaches in glycoengineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Xu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Natural Products (Ministry of Education), Institute of Biochemical and Biotechnological Drug, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Si-Ling Huang
- Bloomage BioTechnology Corp., Ltd., Jinan, 250010, China
| | - Jin Hou
- The State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Xue-Ping Guo
- Bloomage BioTechnology Corp., Ltd., Jinan, 250010, China
| | - Feng-Shan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Natural Products (Ministry of Education), Institute of Biochemical and Biotechnological Drug, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China. .,National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
| | - Ju-Zheng Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Natural Products (Ministry of Education), Institute of Biochemical and Biotechnological Drug, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China. .,National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
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Lim D, Jung WC, Jeong JH, Song M. Targeted Delivery of the Mitochondrial Target Domain of Noxa to Tumor Tissue via Synthetic Secretion System in E. coli. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:840. [PMID: 32766235 PMCID: PMC7379172 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted delivery of drugs is a key aspect of the successful treatment of serious conditions such as tumors. In the pursuit of accurate delivery with high specificity and low size limit for peptide drugs, a synthetic type 3 secretion system (T3SS) has been repurposed from a native genetic system encoded in Salmonella pathogenicity island-1 (SPI-1) with no virulence effectors. Here, we tested the potential of synthetic T3SS as drug delivery machinery for peptide-based drugs owing to its modular nature. First, the genetic system for synthetic T3SS was introduced into non-native host E. coli, which was chosen for its lack of Salmonella-driven virulence factors. Next, the mitochondrial targeting domain (MTD) of Noxa was tested as a cargo protein with anti-tumor activity. To this end, the gene encoding MTD was engineered for secretion through synthetic T3SS, thereby resulting in the tagged MTD at the N-terminus. When E. coli carrying synthetic T3SS and MTD on plasmids was administered into tumor-bearing mice, MTD with a secretion tag at the N-terminus was clearly detected in the tumor tissue after induction. Also, the tumor growth and mortality of tumor-bearing animals were mitigated by the cytotoxic activity of the delivered. Thus, this work potentiates the use of biotherapeutic bacteria for the treatment of tumors by implanting a dedicated delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daejin Lim
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.,Department of Molecular Medicine (BK21plus), Chonnam National University Graduate School, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Woong Chae Jung
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin, South Korea
| | - Jae-Ho Jeong
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.,Department of Molecular Medicine (BK21plus), Chonnam National University Graduate School, Gwangju, South Korea
| | - Miryoung Song
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yongin, South Korea
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