title: Construction of new synthetic biology tools for the control of gene expression in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002.
abstract: Predictive control of gene expression is an essential tool for developing synthetic biological systems. The current toolbox for controlling gene expression in cyanobacteria is a barrier to more in-depth genetic analysis and manipulation. Towards relieving this bottleneck, this work describes the use of synthetic biology to construct an anhydrotetracycline-based induction system and adapt a trans-acting small RNA (sRNA) system for use in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002. An anhydrotetracycline-inducible promoter was developed to maximize intrinsic strength and dynamic range. The resulting construct, PEZtet , exhibited tight repression and a maximum 32-fold induction upon addition of anhydrotetracycline. Additionally, a sRNA system based on the Escherichia coli IS10 RNA-IN/OUT regulator was adapted for use in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002. This system exhibited 70% attenuation of target gene expression, providing a demonstration of the use of sRNAs for differential gene expression in cyanobacteria. These systems were combined to produce an inducible sRNA system, which demonstrated 59% attenuation of target gene expression. Lastly, the role of Hfq, a critical component of sRNA systems in E. coli, was investigated. Genetic studies showed that the Hfq homolog in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 did not impact repression by the engineered sRNA system. In summary, this work describes new synthetic biology tools that can be applied to physiological studies, metabolic engineering, or sRNA platforms in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Dr., Madison, Wisconsin, 53706.
authors.forename: Erin K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Zess
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Dr., Madison, Wisconsin, 53706.|Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Linden Dr., Madison, Wisconsin, 53706.
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Begemann
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Dr., Madison, Wisconsin, 53706. pfleger@engr.wisc.edu.|Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Linden Dr., Madison, Wisconsin, 53706. pfleger@engr.wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Brian F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Pfleger
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005827:Genetics, Microbial / Q000379:methods*; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D058727:RNA, Small Untranslated / Q000378:metabolism; D046940:Synechococcus / Q000235:genetics*; D058615:Synthetic Biology / Q000379:methods*; D013754:Tetracyclines / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D058727:RNA, Small Untranslated; D013754:Tetracyclines; C016229:4-epianhydrotetracycline
keywords: Hfq; RNA-IN-OUT; cyanobacteria; induction system; promoter; sRNA system; synthetic biology