title: Synthetic Quorum Sensing and Cell-Cell Communication in Gram-Positive Bacillus megaterium.
abstract: The components of natural quorum-sensing (QS) systems can be used to engineer synthetic communication systems that regulate gene expression in response to chemical signals. We have used the machinery from the peptide-based agr QS system from Staphylococcus aureus to engineer a synthetic QS system in Bacillus megaterium to enable autoinduction of a target gene at high cell densities. Growth and gene expression from these synthetic QS cells were characterized in both complex and minimal media. We also split the signal production and sensing components between two strains of B. megaterium to produce sender and receiver cells and characterized the resulting communication in liquid media and on semisolid agar. The system described in this work represents the first synthetic QS and cell-cell communication system that has been engineered to function in a Gram-positive host, and it has the potential to enable the generation of dynamic gene regulatory networks in B. megaterium and other Gram-positive organisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, ‡Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute , 110 8th Street, Troy, New York 12180, United States.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marchand
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, ‡Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute , 110 8th Street, Troy, New York 12180, United States.
authors.forename: Cynthia H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D001410:Bacillus megaterium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053038:Quorum Sensing; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C414533:AgrB protein, Staphylococcus aureus; C414532:AgrD protein, Staphylococcus; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
keywords: Bacillus megaterium; autoinduction; cell−cell communication; quorum sensing; synthetic biology