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Can the natural diversity of quorum-sensing advance synthetic biology?

ABSTRACT: Quorum-sensing networks enable bacteria to sense and respond to chemical signals produced by neighboring bacteria. They are widespread: over 100 morphologically and genetically distinct species of eubacteria are known to use quorum sensing to control gene expression. This diversity suggests the potential to use natural protein variants to engineer parallel, input-specific, cell-cell communication pathways. However, only three distinct signaling pathways, Lux, Las, and Rhl, have been adapted for and broadly used in engineered systems. The paucity of unique quorum-sensing systems and their propensity for crosstalk limits the usefulness of our current quorum-sensing toolkit. This review discusses the need for more signaling pathways, roadblocks to using multiple pathways in parallel, and strategies for expanding the quorum-sensing toolbox for synthetic biology.

SUBMITTER: Davis RM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4354409 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Can the natural diversity of quorum-sensing advance synthetic biology?

Davis René Michele RM Muller Ryan Yue RY Haynes Karmella Ann KA

Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology 20150310

Quorum-sensing networks enable bacteria to sense and respond to chemical signals produced by neighboring bacteria. They are widespread: over 100 morphologically and genetically distinct species of eubacteria are known to use quorum sensing to control gene expression. This diversity suggests the potential to use natural protein variants to engineer parallel, input-specific, cell-cell communication pathways. However, only three distinct signaling pathways, Lux, Las, and Rhl, have been adapted for ...[more]

PMID: 25806368

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Corrigendum: Can the Natural Diversity of Quorum-Sensing Advance Synthetic Biology?

Project description:[This corrects the article on p. 30 in vol. 3, PMID: 25806368.].

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