title: The bacterial nanorecorder: engineering E. coli to function as a chemical recording device.
abstract: Synthetic biology is an emerging branch of molecular biology that uses synthetic genetic constructs to create man-made cells or organisms that are capable of performing novel and/or useful applications. Using a synthetic chemically sensitive genetic toggle switch to activate appropriate fluorescent protein indicators (GFP, RFP) and a cell division inhibitor (minC), we have created a novel E. coli strain that can be used as a highly specific, yet simple and inexpensive chemical recording device. This biological "nanorecorder" can be used to determine both the type and the time at which a brief chemical exposure event has occurred. In particular, we show that the short-term exposure (15-30 min) of cells harboring this synthetic genetic circuit to small molecule signals (anhydrotetracycline or IPTG) triggered long-term and uniform cell elongation, with cell length being directly proportional to the time elapsed following a brief chemical exposure. This work demonstrates that facile modification of an existing genetic toggle switch can be exploited to generate a robust, biologically-based "nanorecorder" that could potentially be adapted to detect, respond and record a wide range of chemical stimuli that may vary over time and space.
authors: National Institute for Nanotechnology, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. bhomkar@ualberta.ca
authors: Prasanna
authors: P
authors: Bhomkar
authors: Wayne
authors: W
authors: Materi
authors: David S
authors: DS
authors: Wishart
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007544:Isopropyl Thiogalactoside / Q000494:pharmacology; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D058615:Synthetic Biology / Q000379:methods*; D013754:Tetracyclines / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein
chemical_list: D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007544:Isopropyl Thiogalactoside; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D013754:Tetracyclines; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein; C016229:4-epianhydrotetracycline