Development of SimCells as a novel chassis for functional biosensors
Abstract This work serves as a proof-of-concept for bacterially derived SimCells (Simple Cells), which contain the cell machinery from bacteria and designed DNA (or potentially a simplified genome) to instruct the cell to carry out novel, specific tasks. SimCells represent a reprogrammable chassis w...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2017-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07391-6 |
| _version_ | 1819039924189396992 |
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| author | Cordelia P. N. Rampley Paul A. Davison Pu Qian Gail M. Preston C. Neil Hunter Ian P. Thompson Ling Juan Wu Wei E. Huang |
| author_facet | Cordelia P. N. Rampley Paul A. Davison Pu Qian Gail M. Preston C. Neil Hunter Ian P. Thompson Ling Juan Wu Wei E. Huang |
| author_sort | Cordelia P. N. Rampley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This work serves as a proof-of-concept for bacterially derived SimCells (Simple Cells), which contain the cell machinery from bacteria and designed DNA (or potentially a simplified genome) to instruct the cell to carry out novel, specific tasks. SimCells represent a reprogrammable chassis without a native chromosome, which can host designed DNA to perform defined functions. In this paper, the use of Escherichia coli MC1000 ∆minD minicells as a non-reproducing chassis for SimCells was explored, as demonstrated by their ability to act as sensitive biosensors for small molecules. Highly purified minicells derived from E. coli strains containing gene circuits for biosensing were able to transduce the input signals from several small molecules (glucarate, acrylate and arabinose) into the production of green fluorescent protein (GFP). A mathematical model was developed to fit the experimental data for induction of gene expression in SimCells. The intracellular ATP level was shown to be important for SimCell function. A purification and storage protocol was developed to prepare SimCells which could retain their functions for an extended period of time. This study demonstrates that SimCells are able to perform as ‘smart bioparticles’ controlled by designed gene circuits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T09:00:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3d0fd9a8624f4df2992b9b31e8e450c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T09:00:56Z |
| publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-3d0fd9a8624f4df2992b9b31e8e450c32022-12-21T19:09:27ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222017-08-017111010.1038/s41598-017-07391-6Development of SimCells as a novel chassis for functional biosensorsCordelia P. N. Rampley0Paul A. Davison1Pu Qian2Gail M. Preston3C. Neil Hunter4Ian P. Thompson5Ling Juan Wu6Wei E. Huang7Department of Engineering Science, University of OxfordDepartment of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of SheffieldDepartment of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of SheffieldDepartment of Plant Sciences, University of OxfordDepartment of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of SheffieldDepartment of Engineering Science, University of OxfordThe Centre for Bacterial Cell Biology, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle UniversityDepartment of Engineering Science, University of OxfordAbstract This work serves as a proof-of-concept for bacterially derived SimCells (Simple Cells), which contain the cell machinery from bacteria and designed DNA (or potentially a simplified genome) to instruct the cell to carry out novel, specific tasks. SimCells represent a reprogrammable chassis without a native chromosome, which can host designed DNA to perform defined functions. In this paper, the use of Escherichia coli MC1000 ∆minD minicells as a non-reproducing chassis for SimCells was explored, as demonstrated by their ability to act as sensitive biosensors for small molecules. Highly purified minicells derived from E. coli strains containing gene circuits for biosensing were able to transduce the input signals from several small molecules (glucarate, acrylate and arabinose) into the production of green fluorescent protein (GFP). A mathematical model was developed to fit the experimental data for induction of gene expression in SimCells. The intracellular ATP level was shown to be important for SimCell function. A purification and storage protocol was developed to prepare SimCells which could retain their functions for an extended period of time. This study demonstrates that SimCells are able to perform as ‘smart bioparticles’ controlled by designed gene circuits.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07391-6 |
| spellingShingle | Cordelia P. N. Rampley Paul A. Davison Pu Qian Gail M. Preston C. Neil Hunter Ian P. Thompson Ling Juan Wu Wei E. Huang Development of SimCells as a novel chassis for functional biosensors Scientific Reports |
| title | Development of SimCells as a novel chassis for functional biosensors |
| title_full | Development of SimCells as a novel chassis for functional biosensors |
| title_fullStr | Development of SimCells as a novel chassis for functional biosensors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of SimCells as a novel chassis for functional biosensors |
| title_short | Development of SimCells as a novel chassis for functional biosensors |
| title_sort | development of simcells as a novel chassis for functional biosensors |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07391-6 |
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