scholarly journals Golden Gate Assembly of Aerobic and Anaerobic Microbial Bioreporters

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron J Hinz ◽  
Benjamin R Stenzler ◽  
Alexandre J Poulain
Keyword(s):  
Reporter Gene ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Yellow Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Genetic Circuit ◽  
Regulatory Sequences ◽  
Golden Gate ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Aerobic And Anaerobic ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Synthetic Biology Approach

Microbial bioreporters provide direct insight into cellular processes by producing a quantifiable signal dictated by reporter gene expression. The core of a bioreporter is a genetic circuit in which a reporter gene (or operon) is fused to promoter and regulatory sequences that govern its expression. In this study, we develop a system for constructing novel Escherichia coli bioreporters based on Golden Gate assembly, a synthetic biology approach for the rapid and seamless fusion of DNA fragments. Gene circuits are generated by fusing promoter and reporter sequences encoding yellow fluorescent protein, mCherry, bacterial luciferase, and an anaerobically active flavin-based fluorescent protein. We address a barrier to the implementation of Golden Gate assembly by designing a series of compatible destination vectors that can accommodate the assemblies. We validate the approach by measuring the activity of constitutive bioreporters and mercury and arsenic biosensors in quantitative exposure assays. We also demonstrate anaerobic quantification of mercury and arsenic in biosensors that produce flavin-based fluorescent protein, highlighting the expanding range of redox conditions that can be examined by microbial bioreporters.

scholarly journals Golden Gate Assembly of Aerobic and Anaerobic Microbial Bioreporters

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron J. Hinz ◽  
Benjamin Stenzler ◽  
Alexandre J. Poulain
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Reporter Gene ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Yellow Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Microscopy ◽  
Genetic Circuit ◽  
Regulatory Sequences ◽  
Golden Gate

Microbial bioreporters provide direct insight into cellular processes by producing a quantifiable signal dictated by reporter gene expression. The core of a bioreporter is a genetic circuit in which a reporter gene (or operon) is fused to promoter and regulatory sequences that govern its expression. In this study, we develop a system for constructing novel Escherichia coli bioreporters based on Golden Gate assembly, a synthetic biology approach for the rapid and seamless fusion of DNA fragments. Gene circuits are generated by fusing promoter and reporter sequences encoding yellow fluorescent protein, mCherry, bacterial luciferase, and an anaerobically active flavin-based fluorescent protein. We address a barrier to the implementation of Golden Gate assembly by designing a series of compatible destination vectors that can accommodate the assemblies. We validate the approach by measuring the activity of constitutive bioreporters and mercury and arsenic biosensors in quantitative exposure assays. We also demonstrate anaerobic quantification of mercury and arsenic in biosensors that produce flavin-based fluorescent protein, highlighting the expanding range of redox conditions that can be examined by microbial bioreporters. IMPORTANCE Microbial bioreporters are versatile genetic tools with wide-ranging applications, particularly in the field of environmental toxicology. For example, biosensors that produce a signal output in the presence of a specific analyte offer less costly alternatives to analytical methods for the detection of environmental toxins such as mercury and arsenic. Biosensors of specific toxins can also be used to test hypotheses regarding mechanisms of uptake, toxicity, and biotransformation. In this study, we develop an assembly platform that uses a synthetic biology technique to streamline construction of novel Escherichia coli bioreporters that produce fluorescent or luminescent signals either constitutively or in response to mercury and arsenic exposure. Beyond the synthesis of novel biosensors, our assembly platform can be adapted for numerous applications, including labelling bacteria for fluorescent microscopy, developing gene expression systems, and modifying bacterial genomes.

scholarly journals Detection on Surfaces and in Caco-2 Cells of Campylobacter jejuni Cells Transformed with New gfp, yfp, andcfp Marker Plasmids

2000 ◽  
Vol 66 (12) ◽  
pp. 5426-5436 ◽  
Author(s):  
William G. Miller ◽  
Anne H. Bates ◽  
Sharon T. Horn ◽  
Maria T. Brandl ◽  
Marian R. Wachtel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reporter Gene ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Yellow Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Promoter Sequence ◽  
Broth Culture ◽  
Single Strain ◽  
Shuttle Vectors ◽  
Chicken Skin ◽  
Green Fluorescent ◽  
Fluorescent Protein Reporter

ABSTRACT We have developed two sets of Campylobacter shuttle vectors containing either the gfp (green fluorescent protein), yfp (yellow fluorescent protein), orcfp (cyan fluorescent protein) reporter gene. In one set, the reporter gene is fused to a consensus Campylobacterpromoter sequence (Pc). The other set contains a pUC18 multicloning site upstream of the reporter gene, allowing the construction of transcriptional fusions using known promoters or random genomic fragments. C. jejuni cells transformed with the Pc fusion plasmids are strongly fluorescent and easily visualized on chicken skin, on plant tissue, and within infected Caco-2 cells. In each C. jejuni strain tested, these plasmids were maintained over several passages in the absence of antibiotic selection. Also, in many C. jejuni strains, >91% of the cells transformed with the Pc fusion plasmids remained fluorescent after several days. Experiments with yellow fluorescent and cyan fluorescent C. jejuni transformants suggest that aggregates containing two or more strains of C. jejuni may be present in an enrichment broth culture. Colonies arising from these aggregates would be heterologous in nature; therefore, isolation of a pure culture of C. jejuni, by selecting single colonies, from an environmental sample may not always yield a single strain.

scholarly journals Resolution of telomere associations by TRF1 cleavage in mouse embryonic stem cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (13) ◽  
pp. 1958-1968 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Lisaingo ◽  
Evert-Jan Uringa ◽  
Peter M. Lansdorp
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Genome Instability ◽  
Yellow Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Protein Cleavage ◽  
Telomeric Dna ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Telomere Protein

Telomere associations have been observed during key cellular processes such as mitosis, meiosis, and carcinogenesis and must be resolved before cell division to prevent genome instability. Here we establish that telomeric repeat-binding factor 1 (TRF1), a core component of the telomere protein complex, is a mediator of telomere associations in mammalian cells. Using live-cell imaging, we show that expression of TRF1 or yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-TRF1 fusion protein above endogenous levels prevents proper telomere resolution during mitosis. TRF1 overexpression results in telomere anaphase bridges and aggregates containing TRF1 protein and telomeric DNA. Site-specific protein cleavage of YFP-TRF1 by tobacco etch virus protease resolves telomere aggregates, indicating that telomere associations are mediated by TRF1. This study provides novel insight into the formation and resolution of telomere associations.

scholarly journals Diethylstilbestrol, a Novel ANO1 Inhibitor, Exerts an Anticancer Effect on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via Inhibition of ANO1

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 7100
Author(s):  
Yohan Seo ◽  
Sung Baek Jeong ◽  
Joo Han Woo ◽  
Oh-Bin Kwon ◽  
Sion Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Small Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
Cell Lung Cancer ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Yellow Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Channel Activity ◽  
Small Cell Lung ◽  
Protein Levels

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality; thus, therapeutic targets continue to be developed. Anoctamin1 (ANO1), a novel drug target considered for the treatment of NSCLC, is a Ca2+-activated chloride channel (CaCC) overexpressed in various carcinomas. It plays an important role in the development of cancer; however, the role of ANO1 in NSCLC is unclear. In this study, diethylstilbestrol (DES) was identified as a selective ANO1 inhibitor using high-throughput screening. We found that DES inhibited yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) fluorescence reduction caused by ANO1 activation but did not inhibit cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator channel activity or P2Y activation-related cytosolic Ca2+ levels. Additionally, electrophysiological analyses showed that DES significantly reduced ANO1 channel activity, but it more potently reduced ANO1 protein levels. DES also inhibited the viability and migration of PC9 cells via the reduction in ANO1, phospho-ERK1/2, and phospho-EGFR levels. Moreover, DES induced apoptosis by increasing caspase-3 activity and PARP-1 cleavage in PC9 cells, but it did not affect the viability of hepatocytes. These results suggest that ANO1 is a crucial target in the treatment of NSCLC, and DES may be developed as a potential anti-NSCLC therapeutic agent.

scholarly journals The CRISPR/Cas9 Minipig—A Transgenic Minipig to Produce Specific Mutations in Designated Tissues

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3024
Author(s):  
Martin Fogtmann Berthelsen ◽  
Maria Riedel ◽  
Huiqiang Cai ◽  
Søren H. Skaarup ◽  
Aage K. O. Alstrup ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Yellow Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Somatic Cells ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Lung Epithelial Cells ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Multiple Gene ◽  
Conditional Expression ◽  
Gene Alterations

The generation of large transgenic animals is impeded by complex cloning, long maturation and gastrulation times. An introduction of multiple gene alterations increases the complexity. We have cloned a transgenic Cas9 minipig to introduce multiple mutations by CRISPR in somatic cells. Transgenic Cas9 pigs were generated by somatic cell nuclear transfer and were backcrossed to Göttingen Minipigs for two generations. Cas9 expression was controlled by FlpO-mediated recombination and was visualized by translation from red to yellow fluorescent protein. In vitro analyses in primary fibroblasts, keratinocytes and lung epithelial cells confirmed the genetic alterations executed by the viral delivery of single guide RNAs (sgRNA) to the target cells. Moreover, multiple gene alterations could be introduced simultaneously in a cell by viral delivery of sgRNAs. Cells with loss of TP53, PTEN and gain-of-function mutation in KRASG12D showed increased proliferation, confirming a transformation of the primary cells. An in vivo activation of Cas9 expression could be induced by viral delivery to the skin. Overall, we have generated a minipig with conditional expression of Cas9, where multiple gene alterations can be introduced to somatic cells by viral delivery of sgRNA. The development of a transgenic Cas9 minipig facilitates the creation of complex pre-clinical models for cancer research.

scholarly journals Enhanced brightness of bacterial luciferase by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomomi Kaku ◽  
Kazunori Sugiura ◽  
Tetsuyuki Entani ◽  
Kenji Osabe ◽  
Takeharu Nagai
Keyword(s):  
Energy Transfer ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Color Change ◽  
Yellow Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Bacterial Luciferase ◽  
Bacterial Bioluminescence

AbstractUsing the lux operon (luxCDABE) of bacterial bioluminescence system as an autonomous luminous reporter has been demonstrated in bacteria, plant and mammalian cells. However, applications of bacterial bioluminescence-based imaging have been limited because of its low brightness. Here, we engineered the bacterial luciferase (heterodimer of luxA and luxB) by fusion with Venus, a bright variant of yellow fluorescent protein, to induce bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET). By using decanal as an externally added substrate, color change and ten-times enhancement of brightness was achieved in Escherichia coli when circularly permuted Venus was fused to the C-terminus of luxB. Expression of the Venus-fused luciferase in human embryonic kidney cell lines (HEK293T) or in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves together with the substrate biosynthesis-related genes (luxC, luxD and luxE) enhanced the autonomous bioluminescence. We believe the improved luciferase will forge the way towards the potential development of autobioluminescent reporter system allowing spatiotemporal imaging in live cells.

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