Reversible thermal regulation for bifunctional dynamic control of gene expression in Escherichia coli

作者：Xuan Wang, Jia-Ning Han, Xu Zhang, Yueyuan Ma, Yina Lin, Huan Wang, Dianjie Li, Taoran Zheng, Fuqing Wu, Jianwen Ye, Guo‐Qiang Chen · 发表于：Nature Communications · 年份：2021 · DOI：10.1038/s41467-021-21654-x · 被引用次数：89 · 研究领域：Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction、Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects、Gene Regulatory Network Analysis

Genetically programmed circuits allowing bifunctional dynamic regulation of enzyme expression have far-reaching significances for various bio-manufactural purposes. However, building a bio-switch with a post log-phase response and reversibility during scale-up bioprocesses is still a challenge in metabolic engineering due to the lack of robustness. Here, we report a robust thermosensitive bio-switch that enables stringent bidirectional control of gene expression over time and levels in living cells. Based on the bio-switch, we obtain tree ring-like colonies with spatially distributed patterns and transformer cells shifting among spherical-, rod- and fiber-shapes of the engineered Escherichia coli. Moreover, fed-batch fermentations of recombinant E. coli are conducted to obtain ordered assembly of tailor-made biopolymers polyhydroxyalkanoates including diblock- and random-copolymer, composed of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 4-hydroxybutyrate with controllable monomer molar fraction. This study demonstrates the possibility of well-organized, chemosynthesis-like block polymerization on a molecular scale by reprogrammed microbes, exemplifying the versatility of thermo-response control for various practical uses.