How To Make a Glycopeptide: A Synthetic Biology Approach To Expand Antibiotic Chemical Diversity

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (9) ◽  
pp. 642-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Yim ◽  
Wenliang Wang ◽  
Maulik N. Thaker ◽  
Stephanie Tan ◽  
Gerard D. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Chemical Diversity ◽  
Synthetic Biology Approach

scholarly journals A Synthetic Biology Approach Using Engineered Bacteria to Detect Perfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Contamination in Water

2021 ◽  
Vol 186 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 801-807
Author(s):  
Nathaniel A Young ◽  
Ryan L Lambert ◽  
Angela M Buch ◽  
Christen L Dahl ◽  
Jackson D Harris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Detection System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Contaminated Water ◽  
Engineered Bacteria ◽  
Synthetic Biology Approach ◽  
Rhodococcus Jostii

ABSTRACT Introduction Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic compounds used industrially for a wide variety of applications. These PFAS compounds are very stable and persist in the environment. The PFAS contamination is a growing health issue as these compounds have been reported to impact human health and have been detected in both domestic and global water sources. Contaminated water found on military bases poses a potentially serious health concern for active duty military, their families, and the surrounding communities. Previous detection methods for PFAS in contaminated water samples require expensive and time-consuming testing protocols that limit the ability to detect this important global pollutant. The main objective of this work was to develop a novel detection system that utilizes a biological reporter and engineered bacteria as a way to rapidly and efficiently detect PFAS contamination. Materials and Methods The United States Air Force Academy International Genetically Engineered Machine team is genetically engineering Rhodococcus jostii strain RHA1 to contain novel DNA sequences composed of a propane 2-monooxygenase alpha (prmA) promoter and monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP). The prmA promoter is activated in the presence of PFAS and transcribes the mRFP reporter. Results The recombinant R. jostii containing the prmA promoter and mRFP reporter respond to exposure of PFAS by activating gene expression of the mRFP. At 100 µM of perfluorooctanoic acid, the mRFP expression was increased 3-fold (qRT-PCR). Rhodococcus jostii without exposure to PFAS compounds had no mRFP expression. Conclusions This novel detection system represents a synthetic biology approach to more efficiently detect PFAS in contaminated samples. With further refinement and modifications, a similar system could be readily deployed in the field around the world to detect this critical pollutant.

scholarly journals A sustainable synthetic biology approach for the control of the invasive golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro F Rebelo ◽  
Luana F Afonso ◽  
Juliana A Americo ◽  
Lucas da Silva ◽  
José L B Neto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
South American ◽  
Gene Drive ◽  
Limnoperna Fortunei ◽  
Invasive Mussel ◽  
Golden Mussel ◽  
And Control ◽  
Synthetic Biology Approach

The recent development of the CRISPR-Cas9-based gene drive has created the conditions to seriously consider this technology to solve one of the major environmental challenges in biodiversity conservation i.e. the control of invasive species. There is no efficient control method for golden mussel infestation available so far. Here we discuss the technical and economic feasibility of using a synthetic biology based approach to fight and control the invasive mussel Limnoperna fortunei in South American rivers and reservoirs.

scholarly journals Cell-free genetic devices confer autonomic and adaptive properties to hydrogels

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colette J. Whitfield ◽  
Alice M. Banks ◽  
Gema Dura ◽  
John Love ◽  
Jonathan E. Fieldsend ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Living Organism ◽  
Chemical Diversity ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractSmart materials are able to alter one or more of their properties in response to defined stimuli. Our ability to design and create such materials, however, does not match the diversity and specificity of responses seen within the biological domain. We propose that relocation of molecular phenomena from living cells into hydrogels can be used to confer smart functionality to materials. We establish that cell-free protein synthesis can be conducted in agarose hydrogels, that gene expression occurs throughout the material and that co-expression of genes is possible. We demonstrate that gene expression can be controlled transcriptionally (using in gel gene interactions) and translationally in response to small molecule and nucleic acid triggers. We use this system to design and build a genetic device that can alter the structural property of its chassis material in response to exogenous stimuli. Importantly, we establish that a wide range of hydrogels are appropriate chassis for cell-free synthetic biology, meaning a designer may alter both the genetic and hydrogel components according to the requirements of a given application. We probe the relationship between the physical structure of the gel and in gel protein synthesis and reveal that the material itself may act as a macromolecular crowder enhancing protein synthesis. Given the extensive range of genetically encoded information processing networks in the living kingdom and the structural and chemical diversity of hydrogels, this work establishes a model by which cell-free synthetic biology can be used to create autonomic and adaptive materials.Significance statementSmart materials have the ability to change one or more of their properties (e.g. structure, shape or function) in response to specific triggers. They have applications ranging from light-sensitive sunglasses and drug delivery systems to shape-memory alloys and self-healing coatings. The ability to programme such materials, however, is basic compared to the ability of a living organism to observe, understand and respond to its environment. Here we demonstrate the relocation of biological information processing systems from cells to materials. We achieved this by operating small, programmable genetic devices outside the confines of a living cell and inside hydrogel matrices. These results establish a method for developing materials functionally enhanced with molecular machinery from biological systems.

Synthetic biology approach to developing all-in-one baculovirus vector using mammalian introns and miRNA binding sites

2021 ◽  
pp. 104175
Author(s):  
Chin-Wei Chang ◽  
Liang-Shin Wang ◽  
Nam Ngoc Pham ◽  
Chih-Che Shen ◽  
Mu-Nung Hsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Baculovirus Vector ◽  
Synthetic Biology Approach

Hyper-production of large proteins of spider dragline silk MaSp2 by Escherichia coli via synthetic biology approach

2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 484-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan-Xiang Yang ◽  
Zhi-Gang Qian ◽  
Jian-Jiang Zhong ◽  
Xiao-Xia Xia
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Dragline Silk ◽  
Large Proteins ◽  
Spider Dragline Silk ◽  
Synthetic Biology Approach

scholarly journals Synthetic biology to access and expand nature's chemical diversity

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Smanski ◽  
Hui Zhou ◽  
Jan Claesen ◽  
Ben Shen ◽  
Michael A. Fischbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Chemical Diversity
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