A synthetic biology approach for magnetization of foreign organisms by genetic engineering and transplantation of bacterial magnetosome biosynthesis

Project Information

SYNTOMAGX

Grant agreement ID: 692637

DOI

10.3030/692637

Project closed

EC signature date 15 June 2016

Start date 1 September 2016

End date 31 August 2022

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 2 291 875,00

EU contribution

€ 2 291 875,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITAT BAYREUTH
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 4 - SYNTOMAGX (A synthetic biology approach for magnetization of foreign organisms by genetic engineering and transplantation of bacterial magnetosome biosynthesis)

Reporting period: 2021-03-01 to 2022-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

An immensely valuable asset to the field of synthetic biology would be a means to genetically endow magnetism to living organisms. Biomagnetism is innate to magnetotactic bacteria, mud-dwelling microbes which as geomagnetic sensors biomineralize iron nanocrystals with exceptional properties, the magnetosomes. However, transplantation of magnetosome biosynthesis has remained unachieved for many years, owing to its complexity and lack of knowledge of genetic determinants. In this project, we followed a systematic approach for the genetic magnetization of diverse microorganisms. To this end, the magnetosome biosynthesis pathway was analyzed and its essential gene set was delineated. We studied and engineered the functional expression of magnetosome gene clusters in the native donor Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense and in a multitude of foreign microorganisms, which could be successfully ‘magnetized’. This was exploited for bioproduction of engineered magnetic nanomaterials with novel and tunable properties, which were utilized for a number of biotechnical and biomedical applications. In future work, this can be further utilized to generate intracellular labels, tracers and actuators for magnetic manipulation and analysis of other cells and organisms.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

IIn the first part of the project, we analyzed the magnetosome biosynthesis pathway in the model organism Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense and other magnetotactic bacteria. Then we engineered different prokaryotic hosts for the expression of magnetosome gene clusters from foreign bacteria and began to explore the expression of magnetosome biosynthetic genes in eukaryotic cells.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

We identified novel candidate genes and regulators involved in the biosynthesis of functional magnetosomes. We also discovered several unexpected auxiliary cellular processes (for example involved in cell division, subcellular organization, and biosynthesis of bioactive compounds by magnetic bacteria). Further functionalities could be added to magnetosome particles by synthetic biology approaches. We showed that magnetosome genes from different donors can be expressed in various bacterial chassis strains. We expect that magnetosome biosynthesis can be further engineered in various expression hosts with respect to novel properties and additional functions.

Graphical Summary of Project