Electronic control of gene expression and cell behaviour in Escherichia coli through redox signalling

2017 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 1326

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2017

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

- Electronic control of gene expression and cell behaviour in Escherichia coli through redox signalling Tschirhart T, Kim E, McKay R, Ueda H, Wu HC, Pottash AE, Zargar A, Negrete A, Shiloach J, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Electronic control of gene expression and cell behaviour in Escherichia coli through redox signalling. Nat Commun. 2017 Jan 17;8:14030. doi: 10.1038/ncomms14030. Abstract The ability to interconvert information between electronic and ionic modalities has transformed our ability to record and actuate biological function. Synthetic biology offers the potential to expand communication 'bandwidth' by using biomolecules and providing electrochemical access to redox-based cell signals and behaviours. While engineered cells have transmitted molecular information to electronic devices, the potential for bidirectional communication stands largely untapped. Here we present a simple electrogenetic device that uses redox biomolecules to carry electronic information to engineered bacterial cells in order to control transcription from a simple synthetic gene circuit. Electronic actuation of the native transcriptional regulator SoxR and transcription from the PsoxS promoter allows cell response that is quick, reversible and dependent on the amplitude and frequency of the imposed electronic signals. Further, induction of bacterial motility and population based cell-to-cell communication demonstrates the versatility of our approach and potential to drive intricate biological behaviours. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typein_vitro

Effect directionunclear

PopulationEngineered Escherichia coli (bacterial cells)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

An electrogenetic device using redox biomolecules was used to electronically actuate the native transcriptional regulator SoxR and drive transcription from the PsoxS promoter in engineered E. coli. The reported cell response was quick, reversible, and dependent on the amplitude and frequency of the imposed electronic signals; the approach was also used to induce motility and population-based cell-to-cell communication.

Outcomes measured

Transcriptional control via SoxR/PsoxS synthetic gene circuit
Gene expression (transcription from PsoxS promoter)
Bacterial motility induction
Population-based cell-to-cell communication

Limitations

No quantitative exposure parameters (e.g., field strength, frequency values, SAR) reported in the abstract
Sample size not stated in the abstract
In vitro bacterial model; generalizability to other organisms/health outcomes not addressed in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "electronic signals/electrogenetic device (redox biomolecules)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Engineered Escherichia coli (bacterial cells)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Transcriptional control via SoxR/PsoxS synthetic gene circuit",
    "Gene expression (transcription from PsoxS promoter)",
    "Bacterial motility induction",
    "Population-based cell-to-cell communication"
  ],
  "main_findings": "An electrogenetic device using redox biomolecules was used to electronically actuate the native transcriptional regulator SoxR and drive transcription from the PsoxS promoter in engineered E. coli. The reported cell response was quick, reversible, and dependent on the amplitude and frequency of the imposed electronic signals; the approach was also used to induce motility and population-based cell-to-cell communication.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "No quantitative exposure parameters (e.g., field strength, frequency values, SAR) reported in the abstract",
    "Sample size not stated in the abstract",
    "In vitro bacterial model; generalizability to other organisms/health outcomes not addressed in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electrogenetics",
    "electronic control",
    "redox signalling",
    "SoxR",
    "PsoxS promoter",
    "synthetic biology",
    "Escherichia coli",
    "gene expression",
    "bacterial motility",
    "cell-to-cell communication"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14030
PubMed: Not supplied

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