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Kocalar S, Miller BM, Huang A, Gleason E, Martin K, Foley K, Copeland DS, Jewett MC, Saavedra EA, Kraves S. Validation of Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Aboard the International Space Station. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:942-950. [PMID: 38442491 PMCID: PMC10949350 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is a rapidly maturing in vitro gene expression platform that can be used to transcribe and translate nucleic acids at the point of need, enabling on-demand synthesis of peptide-based vaccines and biotherapeutics as well as the development of diagnostic tests for environmental contaminants and infectious agents. Unlike traditional cell-based systems, CFPS platforms do not require the maintenance of living cells and can be deployed with minimal equipment; therefore, they hold promise for applications in low-resource contexts, including spaceflight. Here, we evaluate the performance of the cell-free platform BioBits aboard the International Space Station by expressing RNA-based aptamers and fluorescent proteins that can serve as biological indicators. We validate two classes of biological sensors that detect either the small-molecule DFHBI or a specific RNA sequence. Upon detection of their respective analytes, both biological sensors produce fluorescent readouts that are visually confirmed using a hand-held fluorescence viewer and imaged for quantitative analysis. Our findings provide insights into the kinetics of cell-free transcription and translation in a microgravity environment and reveal that both biosensors perform robustly in space. Our findings lay the groundwork for portable, low-cost applications ranging from point-of-care health monitoring to on-demand detection of environmental hazards in low-resource communities both on Earth and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selin Kocalar
- Leigh
High School, 5210 Leigh
Ave, San Jose, California 95124, United States
- Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Bess M. Miller
- Division
of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Ally Huang
- miniPCR
bio, 1770 Massachusetts
Ave, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Emily Gleason
- miniPCR
bio, 1770 Massachusetts
Ave, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Kathryn Martin
- miniPCR
bio, 1770 Massachusetts
Ave, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Kevin Foley
- Boeing
Defense, Space & Security, 6398 Upper Brandon Dr, Houston, Texas 77058, United States
| | - D. Scott Copeland
- Boeing
Defense, Space & Security, 6398 Upper Brandon Dr, Houston, Texas 77058, United States
| | - Michael C. Jewett
- Department
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department
of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | | | - Sebastian Kraves
- miniPCR
bio, 1770 Massachusetts
Ave, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140, United States
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Misquitta K, Miller BM, Malecek K, Gleason E, Martin K, Walesky CM, Foley K, Copeland DS, Saavedra EA, Kraves S. A fluorescence viewer for rapid molecular assay readout in space and low-resource terrestrial environments. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0291158. [PMID: 38489299 PMCID: PMC10942025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence-based assays provide sensitive and adaptable methods for point of care testing, environmental monitoring, studies of protein abundance and activity, and a wide variety of additional applications. Currently, their utility in remote and low-resource environments is limited by the need for technically complicated or expensive instruments to read out fluorescence signal. Here we describe the Genes in Space Fluorescence Viewer (GiS Viewer), a portable, durable viewer for rapid molecular assay readout that can be used to visualize fluorescence in the red and green ranges. The GiS Viewer can be used to visualize any assay run in standard PCR tubes and contains a heating element. Results are visible by eye or can be imaged with a smartphone or tablet for downstream quantification. We demonstrate the capabilities of the GiS Viewer using two case studies-detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA using RT-LAMP and quantification of drug-induced changes in gene expression via qRT-PCR on Earth and aboard the International Space Station. We show that the GiS Viewer provides a reliable method to visualize fluorescence in space without the need to return samples to Earth and can further be used to assess the results of RT-LAMP and qRT-PCR assays on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bess M. Miller
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Kathryn Malecek
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Emily Gleason
- miniPCR bio, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | | | - Chad M. Walesky
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Kevin Foley
- Boeing Defense, Space & Security, Berkeley, MO, United States of America
| | - D. Scott Copeland
- Boeing Defense, Space & Security, Berkeley, MO, United States of America
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Stahl-Rommel S, Li D, Sung M, Li R, Vijayakumar A, Atabay KD, Bushkin GG, Castro CL, Foley KD, Copeland DS, Castro-Wallace SL, Alvarez Saavedra E, Gleason EJ, Kraves S. A CRISPR-based assay for the study of eukaryotic DNA repair onboard the International Space Station. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253403. [PMID: 34191829 PMCID: PMC8244870 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As we explore beyond Earth, astronauts may be at risk for harmful DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation. Double-strand breaks are a type of DNA damage that can be repaired by two major cellular pathways: non-homologous end joining, during which insertions or deletions may be added at the break site, and homologous recombination, in which the DNA sequence often remains unchanged. Previous work suggests that space conditions may impact the choice of DNA repair pathway, potentially compounding the risks of increased radiation exposure during space travel. However, our understanding of this problem has been limited by technical and safety concerns, which have prevented integral study of the DNA repair process in space. The CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system offers a model for the safe and targeted generation of double-strand breaks in eukaryotes. Here we describe a CRISPR-based assay for DNA break induction and assessment of double-strand break repair pathway choice entirely in space. As necessary steps in this process, we describe the first successful genetic transformation and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in space. These milestones represent a significant expansion of the molecular biology toolkit onboard the International Space Station.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Li
- Woodbury High School, Woodbury, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Michelle Sung
- Mounds View High School, Arden Hills, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Rebecca Li
- Mounds View High School, Arden Hills, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Aarthi Vijayakumar
- Mounds View High School, Arden Hills, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Kutay Deniz Atabay
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - G. Guy Bushkin
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | - Kevin D. Foley
- Boeing Defense, Space & Security, Berkley, Michigan, United States of America
| | - D. Scott Copeland
- Boeing Defense, Space & Security, Berkley, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Sarah L. Castro-Wallace
- Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Emily J. Gleason
- MiniPCR Bio, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (EJG); (SK)
| | - Sebastian Kraves
- MiniPCR Bio, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (EJG); (SK)
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Rubinfien J, Atabay KD, Nichols NM, Tanner NA, Pezza JA, Gray MM, Wagner BM, Poppin JN, Aken JT, Gleason EJ, Foley KD, Copeland DS, Kraves S, Alvarez Saavedra E. Nucleic acid detection aboard the International Space Station by colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). FASEB Bioadv 2020; 2:160-165. [PMID: 32161905 PMCID: PMC7059625 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2019-00088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Human spaceflight endeavors present an opportunity to expand our presence beyond Earth. To this end, it is crucial to understand and diagnose effects of long‐term space travel on the human body. Developing tools for targeted, on‐site detection of specific DNA sequences will allow us to establish research and diagnostics platforms that will benefit space programs. We describe a simple DNA diagnostic method that utilizes colorimetric loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to enable detection of a repetitive telomeric DNA sequence in as little as 30 minutes. A proof of concept assay for this method was carried out using existing hardware on the International Space Station and the results were read instantly by an astronaut through a simple color change of the reaction mixture. LAMP offers a novel platform for on‐orbit DNA‐based diagnostics that can be deployed on the International Space Station and to the broader benefit of space programs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kutay D Atabay
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge MA USA
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Montague TG, Almansoori A, Gleason EJ, Copeland DS, Foley K, Kraves S, Alvarez Saavedra E. Gene expression studies using a miniaturized thermal cycler system on board the International Space Station. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205852. [PMID: 30379894 PMCID: PMC6209215 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The distance and duration of human spaceflight missions is set to markedly increase over the coming decade as we prepare to send astronauts to Mars. However, the health impact of long-term exposure to cosmic radiation and microgravity is not fully understood. In order to identify the molecular mechanisms underpinning the effects of space travel on human health, we must develop the capacity to monitor changes in gene expression and DNA integrity in space. Here, we report successful implementation of three molecular biology procedures on board the International Space Station (ISS) using a miniaturized thermal cycler system and C. elegans as a model organism: first, DNA extraction–the initial step for any type of DNA analysis; second, reverse transcription of RNA to generate complementary DNA (cDNA); and third, the subsequent semi-quantitative PCR amplification of cDNA to analyze gene expression changes in space. These molecular procedures represent a significant expansion of the budding molecular biology capabilities of the ISS and will permit more complex analyses of space-induced genetic changes during spaceflight missions aboard the ISS and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa G. Montague
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | | | | | - Kevin Foley
- Boeing, Houston, TX, United States of America
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Saavedra EA. [Nobel Prize for Medicine 2002: Brenner, Horvitz, Sulston and the Caenorhabditis elegans worm]. Medicina (B Aires) 2003; 63:179-82. [PMID: 12793090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
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