Pulsed Electric Fields Alter Expression of NF-κB Promoter-Controlled Gene
The possibility to artificially adjust and fine-tune gene expression is one of the key milestones in bioengineering, synthetic biology, and advanced medicine. Since the effects of proteins or other transgene products depend on the dosage, controlled gene expression is required for any applications,...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/1/451 |
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| author | Justina Kavaliauskaitė Auksė Kazlauskaitė Juozas Rimantas Lazutka Gatis Mozolevskis Arūnas Stirkė |
| author_facet | Justina Kavaliauskaitė Auksė Kazlauskaitė Juozas Rimantas Lazutka Gatis Mozolevskis Arūnas Stirkė |
| author_sort | Justina Kavaliauskaitė |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The possibility to artificially adjust and fine-tune gene expression is one of the key milestones in bioengineering, synthetic biology, and advanced medicine. Since the effects of proteins or other transgene products depend on the dosage, controlled gene expression is required for any applications, where even slight fluctuations of the transgene product impact its function or other critical cell parameters. In this context, physical techniques demonstrate optimistic perspectives, and pulsed electric field technology is a potential candidate for a noninvasive, biophysical gene regulator, exploiting an easily adjustable pulse generating device. We exposed mammalian cells, transfected with a NF-κB pathway-controlled transcription system, to a range of microsecond-duration pulsed electric field parameters. To prevent toxicity, we used protocols that would generate relatively mild physical stimulation. The present study, for the first time, proves the principle that microsecond-duration pulsed electric fields can alter single-gene expression in plasmid context in mammalian cells without significant damage to cell integrity or viability. Gene expression might be upregulated or downregulated depending on the cell line and parameters applied. This noninvasive, ligand-, cofactor-, nanoparticle-free approach enables easily controlled direct electrostimulation of the construct carrying the gene of interest; the discovery may contribute towards the path of simplification of the complexity of physical systems in gene regulation and create further synergies between electronics, synthetic biology, and medicine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:37:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-10a822f06f094fc9a6bfbccf8fc165ee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:37:18Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-10a822f06f094fc9a6bfbccf8fc165ee2023-11-23T11:40:11ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-12-0123145110.3390/ijms23010451Pulsed Electric Fields Alter Expression of NF-κB Promoter-Controlled GeneJustina Kavaliauskaitė0Auksė Kazlauskaitė1Juozas Rimantas Lazutka2Gatis Mozolevskis3Arūnas Stirkė4Laboratory of Bioelectrics, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Sauletekio Ave. 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, LithuaniaLaboratory of Bioelectrics, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Sauletekio Ave. 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, LithuaniaDepartment of Botany and Genetics, Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio Ave. 7, LT-10222 Vilnius, LithuaniaLaboratory of Prototyping of Electronic and Photonic Devices, Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, Kengaraga Str. 8, LV-1063 Riga, LatviaLaboratory of Bioelectrics, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Sauletekio Ave. 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, LithuaniaThe possibility to artificially adjust and fine-tune gene expression is one of the key milestones in bioengineering, synthetic biology, and advanced medicine. Since the effects of proteins or other transgene products depend on the dosage, controlled gene expression is required for any applications, where even slight fluctuations of the transgene product impact its function or other critical cell parameters. In this context, physical techniques demonstrate optimistic perspectives, and pulsed electric field technology is a potential candidate for a noninvasive, biophysical gene regulator, exploiting an easily adjustable pulse generating device. We exposed mammalian cells, transfected with a NF-κB pathway-controlled transcription system, to a range of microsecond-duration pulsed electric field parameters. To prevent toxicity, we used protocols that would generate relatively mild physical stimulation. The present study, for the first time, proves the principle that microsecond-duration pulsed electric fields can alter single-gene expression in plasmid context in mammalian cells without significant damage to cell integrity or viability. Gene expression might be upregulated or downregulated depending on the cell line and parameters applied. This noninvasive, ligand-, cofactor-, nanoparticle-free approach enables easily controlled direct electrostimulation of the construct carrying the gene of interest; the discovery may contribute towards the path of simplification of the complexity of physical systems in gene regulation and create further synergies between electronics, synthetic biology, and medicine.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/1/451microsecond pulsed electric fieldinducible gene transcription controlreporter assaysecreted alkaline phosphatasemammalian cellscell line |
| spellingShingle | Justina Kavaliauskaitė Auksė Kazlauskaitė Juozas Rimantas Lazutka Gatis Mozolevskis Arūnas Stirkė Pulsed Electric Fields Alter Expression of NF-κB Promoter-Controlled Gene International Journal of Molecular Sciences microsecond pulsed electric field inducible gene transcription control reporter assay secreted alkaline phosphatase mammalian cells cell line |
| title | Pulsed Electric Fields Alter Expression of NF-κB Promoter-Controlled Gene |
| title_full | Pulsed Electric Fields Alter Expression of NF-κB Promoter-Controlled Gene |
| title_fullStr | Pulsed Electric Fields Alter Expression of NF-κB Promoter-Controlled Gene |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pulsed Electric Fields Alter Expression of NF-κB Promoter-Controlled Gene |
| title_short | Pulsed Electric Fields Alter Expression of NF-κB Promoter-Controlled Gene |
| title_sort | pulsed electric fields alter expression of nf κb promoter controlled gene |
| topic | microsecond pulsed electric field inducible gene transcription control reporter assay secreted alkaline phosphatase mammalian cells cell line |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/1/451 |
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