Engineering bacteria to recognize and follow small molecules.
The ability to recognize and react to specific environmental cues allows bacteria to localize to environments favorable to their survival and growth. Synthetic biologists have begun to exploit the chemosensory pathways that control cell motility to reprogram how bacteria move in response to novel signals. Reprograming is often accomplished by designing novel protein or RNA parts that respond to specific small molecules not normally recognized by the natural chemosensory pathways. Additionally, cell motility and localization can be coupled to bacterial quorum sensing, potentially allowing consortia of cells to perform complex tasks.
Mishler
Dennis M
DM
Department of Chemistry and Center for Fundamental and Applied Molecular Evolution, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Topp
Shana
S
Reynoso
Colleen M K
CM
Gallivan
Justin P
JP
D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D057005:Bioengineering / Q000379:methods*; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D053038:Quorum Sensing