Highly Sensitive and Rapid Fluorescence Detection with a Portable FRET Analyzer

Recent improvements in F&#246;rster resonance energy transfer (FRET) sensors have enabled their use to detect various small molecules including ions and ...

korea research institute of bioscience and biotechnology

In this study, a volumetric scale-up of this system was designed and built on a field pilot-scale (total digester volume 10 m(3)), with the results from the field pilot-scale experiments compared with those from the bench-scale (total digester volume 0.4 m(3)) process prior to scale-up. The reduction rate of total chemical oxygen demand (tCOD) and the maximum methane content produced in the biogas from the bench-scale system were 90.6% and 72%; whereas those from the field pilot-scale system were 90.1% and 68%, respectively. The estimated methane yields were 282 and 254 l CH(4)/kg tCOD(degraded) in bench and field pilot-scale fermentation systems, respectively. These results indicate that the three stage fermentation system developed in this study can be applied as a commercial process for the disposal of food waste in view of process stability.

Volumetric scale-up of a three stage fermentation system for food waste treatment.

A methane-oxidizing bacterium was isolated from the effluent of manure and its molecular and biochemical properties were characterized. The isolate was aerobic, Gram-negative, and non-motile. The organism had a type I intracytoplasmic membrane structure and granular inclusion bodies. The outer cell wall surface (S-layers) was tightly packed with cup-shaped structures. Colonies were light yellow on nitrate mineral salt agar medium. In addition, the organism was catalase and oxidase positive. The isolate used the ribulose monophosphate (RuMP) pathway for carbon assimilation, and was able to utilize methane and methanol as a sole carbon and energy source, however, it could not utilize any other organic compounds that were tested. The cells grew well in a mixture of methane and air (methane:air=1:1, v/v) in a compulsory circulation diffusion system, and when grown under those conditions, the optimum pH was approximately 7.0 and the optimal temperature was 30 degrees. In addition, the specific growth rate and generation time were 0.13 per h and 5.43 h, respectively, when grown under the optimum conditions. The major ubiquinone was Q-8, and the G+C mol% of the DNA was 55.3. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that this bacterium belongs to a group of type I methanotrophs, and that it is most closely related to Methylomicrobium, with a sequence similarity of 99%. Therefore, the isolate was named Methylomicrobium sp. HG-1.

Isolation and taxonomic characterization of a novel type I methanotrophic bacterium.

Two types of methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) were obtained from a novel marine methylotrophic bacterium, Methylophaga aminisulfidivorans MP(T), grown on methanol. Type I MDH consisted of two identical dimers of α (65.98 kDa) and β (7.58 kDa) subunits organized to form the α(2)β(2) tetramer. Type II MDH contained an additional MxaJ protein (27.86 kDa) and had more specific activity than type I MDH. The K(m) values of type I and II MDH for methanol under cytochrome c(L) reduction assay system were estimated to be 50.3 and 13.0 μM, respectively, and the isoelectric points of type I and II MDH were determined to be 5.4 and 5.8, respectively. The average molar ratios of α:β, α:MxaJ, and β:MxaJ in type II MDH were approximately 1:0.99, 1:0.41 and 1:0.42, respectively. Based on these results, the original conformation of the MDH of M. aminisulfidivorans MP(T) is most likely the α(2)β(2)-MxaJ complex. During purification, the lysozyme and freeze-thawing cell disruption method significantly increased the amount of type II MDH in the soluble fraction compared with strong physical disruption methods such as sonication and French Press.

Comparative analysis of two types of methanol dehydrogenase from Methylophaga aminisulfidivorans MPT grown on methanol.

Methylophaga aminisulfidivorans MP(T) is a restricted facultatively marine methylotrophic bacterium that grows on methanol, methylated amines, dimethyl sulfide, and dimethyl sulfoxide. Here we present the high-quality draft genome sequence of M. aminisulfidivorans MP(T) (KCTC 12909(T) = JCM 14647(T)), consisting of a chromosome (3,092,085 bp) and a plasmid (16,875 bp).

Draft genome sequence of Methylophaga aminisulfidivorans MP T.

In our previous study, a batch fermentation of recombinant Escherichia coli DH5α cells harboring the fmo gene from Methylophaga aminisulfidivorans MP(T) produced indirubin (5.0mg/L) and indigo (920mg/L) in a 5L fermenter containing tryptophan medium (2g/L tryptophan, 5g/L yeast extract, 10g/L NaCl). In this study, it was found that indirubin production greatly increased when 0.36g/L cysteine was added to the tryptophan medium, although cysteine inhibited the growth of the recombinant E. coli harboring the fmo gene. However, the addition of cysteine did not inhibit the expression level and activity of FMO in the cell. Indigo was synthesized by the dimerization of two 3-hydroxyindole molecules under the non-enzymatic reaction. Cysteine influenced the regioselectivity of FMO and enhanced the synthesis of 2-hydroxyindole instead of 3-hydroxyindole, which might function to increase indirubin production. The optimal culture conditions for indirubin production in tryptophan medium were determined from the response surface methodology analysis: 2g/L tryptophan, 5g/L yeast extract, 10g/L NaCl, 0.36g/L (3mM) cysteine, pH 8.0 at 35°C. Under these conditions, the recombinant E. coli cells were capable of producing 223.6mg/L of indirubin from 2g/L of tryptophan. The intracellular accumulation of the indirubin crystals might stress the cell, which may be a main reason for the poor growth of the recombinant E. coli pBlue 1.7.

Enhanced indirubin production in recombinant Escherichia coli harboring a flavin-containing monooxygenase gene by cysteine supplementation.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) can lead to substantial socio-economic losses and extensive damage to aquatic ecosystems, drinking water sources and human health. Common algicidal techniques, including ozonation, ultrasonic treatment and dispersion of algae-killing chemicals, are unsatisfactory both economically and ecologically. This study therefore presents a novel alternative strategy for the efficient control of deleterious algae via the use of host-specific virus-like particles (VLPs) combined with chemically synthesized algicidal compounds. The capsid protein of HcRNAV34, a single-stranded RNA virus that infects the toxic dinoflagellate, Heterocapsa circularisquama, was expressed in and purified from Escherichia coli and then self-assembled into VLPs in vitro. Next, the algicidal compound, thiazolidinedione 49 (TD49), was encapsidated into HcRNAV34 VLPs for specific delivery to H. circularisquama. Consequently, HcRNAV34 VLPs demonstrated the same host selectivity as naturally occurring HcRNAV34 virions, while TD49-encapsidated VLPs showed a more potent target-specific algicidal effect than TD49 alone. These results indicate that target-specific VLPs for the delivery of cytotoxic compounds to nuisance algae might provide a safe, environmentally friendly approach for the management of HABs in aquatic ecosystems.

Construction of target-specific virus-like particles for the delivery of algicidal compounds to harmful algae.

Methods for simple and efficient regulation of metabolic pathway genes are essential for maximizing product titers and conversion yields, and for minimizing the metabolic burden caused by heterologous expression of multiple genes often in the operon context. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) interference (CRISPRi) is emerging as a promising tool for transcriptional modulation. In this study, we developed a regulatable CRISPRi system for fine-tuning biosynthetic pathways and thus directing carbon flux toward target product synthesis. By exploiting engineered Escherichia coli harboring a biosynthetic mevalonate (MVA) pathway and plant-derived terpenoid synthases, the CRISPRi system successfully modulated the expression of all the MVA pathway genes in the context of operon and blocked the transcription of the acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the MVA pathway. This CRISPRi-guided balancing of expression of MVA pathway genes led to enhanced production of (-)-α-bisabolol (C15) and lycopene (C40) and alleviation of cell growth inhibition that may be caused by expression of multiple enzymes or production of toxic intermediate metabolites in the MVA pathway. Coupling CRISPRi to cell growth by regulating an endogenous essential gene (ispA) increased isoprene (C5) production. The regulatable CRISPRi system proved to be a robust platform for systematic modulation of biosynthetic and endogenous gene expression, and can be used to tune biosynthetic metabolic pathways. Its application can enable the development of microbial 'smart cell' factories that can produce other industrially valuable products in the future.

Gui Hwan Han

Synthetic Biology & Bioengineering Research Center

korea research institute of bioscience and biotechnology

Highly Sensitive and Rapid Fluorescence Detection with a Portable FRET Analyzer

Gui Hwan Han

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Synthetic Biology & Bioengineering Research Center

korea research institute of bioscience and biotechnology

Highly Sensitive and Rapid Fluorescence Detection with a Portable FRET Analyzer

Synthetic Biology & Bioengineering Research Center