Synthetic circuits, devices and modules

Zhao, Hong; Jiang, Taijiao

doi:10.1007/s13238-010-0133-8

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Import-storage systems are essentially genetic circuits that have thus far used chemical signals (input) to induce expression of the import-storage machinery for bioaccumulation (output; Zhang and Jiang, 2010 ; Brophy and Voigt, 2014 ). The genetic regulatory elements that initiate transcription and translation of these systems in the model organisms may not function in the non-model organisms, like those described here.…”

Section: Re-thinking Bioaccumulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy Metal Removal by Bioaccumulation Using Genetically Engineered Microorganisms

Diep

Mahadevan

Yakunin

2018

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

244

100

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Wastewater effluents from mines and metal refineries are often contaminated with heavy metal ions, so they pose hazards to human and environmental health. Conventional technologies to remove heavy metal ions are well-established, but the most popular methods have drawbacks: chemical precipitation generates sludge waste, and activated carbon and ion exchange resins are made from unsustainable non-renewable resources. Using microbial biomass as the platform for heavy metal ion removal is an alternative method. Specifically, bioaccumulation is a natural biological phenomenon where microorganisms use proteins to uptake and sequester metal ions in the intracellular space to utilize in cellular processes (e.g., enzyme catalysis, signaling, stabilizing charges on biomolecules). Recombinant expression of these import-storage systems in genetically engineered microorganisms allows for enhanced uptake and sequestration of heavy metal ions. This has been studied for over two decades for bioremediative applications, but successful translation to industrial-scale processes is virtually non-existent. Meanwhile, demands for metal resources are increasing while discovery rates to supply primary grade ores are not. This review re-thinks how bioaccumulation can be used and proposes that it can be developed for bioextractive applications—the removal and recovery of heavy metal ions for downstream purification and refining, rather than disposal. This review consolidates previously tested import-storage systems into a biochemical framework and highlights efforts to overcome obstacles that limit industrial feasibility, thereby identifying gaps in knowledge and potential avenues of research in bioaccumulation.

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Section: Re-thinking Bioaccumulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy Metal Removal by Bioaccumulation Using Genetically Engineered Microorganisms

Diep

Mahadevan

Yakunin

2018

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

244

100

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“…Spatiotemporal quantities of endogenous gene products are regulated through numerous mechanisms including transcript elongation (7), antisense transcription (8), and several posttranscriptional and translational processes (9,10). Although these mechanisms could be leveraged to fine-tune the expression of transgenes, information flow from synthetic genetic circuits is initiated by transcription and, therefore, control of transcription is considered the simplest way to balance the expression of transgenes within a synthetic genetic circuit (11). To achieve this, regulatory elements with predicable characteristics are highly desirable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rational Design of Minimal Synthetic Promoters for Plants

Cai

Kallam

Tidd

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Promoters serve a critical role in establishing baseline transcriptional capacity through the recruitment of proteins, including transcription factors (TFs). Previously, a paucity of data for cis-regulatory elements in plants meant that it was challenging to determine which sequence elements in plant promoter sequences contributed to transcriptional function. In this study, we have identified functional elements in the promoters of plant genes and plant pathogens that utilise plant transcriptional machinery for gene expression. We have established a quantitative experimental system to investigate transcriptional function, investigating how identity, density and position contribute to regulatory function. We then identified permissive architectures for minimal synthetic plant promoters enabling computational design of a suite of synthetic promoters of different strengths. These have been used to regulate the relative expression of output genes in simple genetic devices.

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“…Genetic devices have been used to construct novel signaling circuits such as genetic switches ( Gardner et al, 2000 ; Green et al, 2014 ), digital logic circuits ( Moon et al, 2012 ; Ausländer et al, 2012 ; Siuti et al, 2013 ), rewired signaling pathways ( Kiel et al, 2010 ; Yuan et al, 2012 ; Flock et al, 2014 ) and feedback loops ( Stricker et al, 2008 ; Prindle et al, 2014 ). It proved easy to construct networks between synthetic genes using standardized building blocks ( Zhang and Jiang, 2010 ; Schreiber et al, 2016 ). By controlling the gene expression, there are both positive and negative gene connections.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesizing artificial devices that redirect cellular information at will

Liu

Chen

et al. 2018

eLife

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Natural signaling circuits could be rewired to reprogram cells with pre-determined procedures. However, it is difficult to link cellular signals at will. Here, we describe signal-connectors—a series of RNA devices—that connect one signal to another signal at the translational level. We use them to either repress or enhance the translation of target genes in response to signals. Application of these devices allows us to construct various logic gates and to incorporate feedback loops into gene networks. They have also been used to rewire a native signaling pathway and even to create novel pathways. Furthermore, logical AND gates based on these devices and integration of multiple signals have been used successfully for identification and redirection of the state of cancer cells. Eventually, the malignant phenotypes of cancers have been reversed by rewiring the oncogenic signaling from promoting to suppressing tumorigenesis. We provide a novel platform for redirecting cellular information.

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Synthetic circuits, devices and modules

Cited by 11 publications

References 60 publications

Heavy Metal Removal by Bioaccumulation Using Genetically Engineered Microorganisms

Heavy Metal Removal by Bioaccumulation Using Genetically Engineered Microorganisms

Rational Design of Minimal Synthetic Promoters for Plants

Synthesizing artificial devices that redirect cellular information at will

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