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

Informations projet

SYNTOMAGX

N° de convention de subvention: 692637

DOI

10.3030/692637

Projet clôturé

Date de signature de la CE 15 Juin 2016

Date de début 1 Septembre 2016

Date de fin 31 Août 2022

Financé au titre de

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Coût total

€ 2 291 875,00

Contribution de l’UE

€ 2 291 875,00

Coordonné par

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)

Période du rapport: 2021-03-01 au 2022-08-31

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

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.

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

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.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

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