Magnetic Field-Mediated Control of Whole-Cell Biocatalysis

Abstract

For decades, scientists have been looking for a way to control catalytic and biocatalytic processes through external physical stimuli. In this Letter, for the first time, we demonstrate the 150 ± 8% increase of the conversion of glucose to ethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae due to the application of a low-frequency magnetic field (100 Hz). This effect was achieved by the specially developed magnetic urchin-like particles, consisting of micrometer-sized core coated nanoneedles with high density, which could provide a biosafe permeabilization of cell membranes in a selected frequency and concentration range. We propose an acceleration mechanism based on magnetic field-induced cell membrane permeabilization. The ability to control cell metabolism without affecting their viability is a promising way for industrial biosynthesis to obtain a beneficial product with genetically engineered cells and subsequent improvement of biotechnological processes.

Proteolysis Degree of Protein Corona Affect Ultrasound-Induced Sublethal Effects on Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Transcriptomics Analysis and Adaptive Regulation of Membrane Homeostasis

“…Based on the results of cell counting and membrane permeability experiments, it could be concluded that US-induced sublethal membrane damage was waned with the presence of non-proteolysis PC on the surface of nanoparticles, and the non-proteolysis PC might result in smaller membrane pores than full-proteolysis PC. Previous research showed that the small hole (a pore size < 50 nm) on the membrane could be repaired immediately in 5 to 120 s [ 21 ].…”

Environmental concerns and bioaccumulation of psychiatric drugs in water bodies – Conventional versus biocatalytic systems of mitigation

“…This format of biotransformation has been used in different biotransformation processes due to several advantages, such as high surface-area-to-volume ratio, high catalytic activity, and low energy requirements ( Pinto et al, 2020 ; Liu et al, 2019 ). However, the whole-cell biocatalysis approach presents some disadvantages related to the low diffusion rate of the substrate into the cell to the reaction centers, where takes place the enzymatic reaction ( Kladko et al, 2020 ), which leads to low stability, cross reactivity, impossibility to recycle the biocatalyst and time-consuming purification steps ( Sheldon and Woodley, 2018 ; Haghighatian et al, 2020 ).

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Nanomaterial Shape Influence on Cell Behavior

“…In contrast to treatment, the use of nanoparticles in microbial engineering is less widespread in the literature. Examples include protective nanoshells to overcome conditions in harsh environments [ 144 , 145 ], the integration of synthetic solar-to-chemical energy transformation pathways in non-photosynthetic organisms [ 146 , 147 ], and magnetic and light control of metabolic reactions [ 14 , 148 ]. The synergy of synthetic biology and materials science creates a unique possibility for the novel generation of microbes-based factories with remote control and the on-demand production of valuable products.…”

“…The shape control of nanomaterials represents a major field in materials science, and a large number of approaches exist towards the production of sphere- [8], ellipsoid- [9], dumbbell- [10], cube- [11], polyhedra- [12], rod- [13], urchin- [14], star- [15], chain- [16], ribbon- [17], hollow [18], prism- [19], and hexagon-shaped [20] nanomaterials. Nanomaterial shape control stems from effects such as selective adsorption growth of reactive facets; spontaneous aggregation and agglomeration; seeded growth on particularly-shaped templates; controllable crystal fusion via orientation attachment; self-assembly via selective strong interactions, e.g., chemical and hydrogen bonds; and Ostwald ripening directed at free surface energy minimization.…”