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Engineering and Rapid Prototyping for Biology in Extreme Conditions

Citation

Meyerowitz, Joseph Toshiro (2023) Engineering and Rapid Prototyping for Biology in Extreme Conditions. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/9gbb-n831. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:12022022-073109279

Abstract

In this thesis we show three projects in which biological systems are engineered for increased robustness to environmental stressors such as toxic small molecules. Several lignocellulose-derived growth inhibitors commonly found in industrial feedstocks for fermentation were used to grow a panel of yeast knockouts for several efflux pumps and detoxifying enzymes. Some specific knockout strains showed slowed growth on specific growth inhibitors, while other knockout strains showed the same growth rate as the wild-type. One efflux pump was identified for vanillin, YHK8, and was overexpressed in yeast. The overexpression strain did not show an improved tolerance to vanillin, and grew more slowly than the wild-type. To regulate the expression of the vanillin pump, a sensor for vanillin was created. The starting enzyme was the wild-type qacR transcription factor, and several variants were generated using computational protein design. The designs were synthesized and tested using in vitro transcription-translation (TX-TL) as part of a rapid prototyping process. This rapid prototyping considerably sped up the design-build-test process. Finally, four bacteria, Pseudomonas synxantha 2-79, Pseudomonas chlororaphis PCL1391, Pseudomonas aureofaciens 30-84, and E. coli are tested against the same lignocellulose growth inhibitors. The Pseudomonas spp. show an improved tolerance to the growth inhibitors. We then develop some ability to engineer and prototype in all three species. A panel of promoter parts were integrated into the P. synxantha genome to produce a collection of test strains. These same promoter parts were also used as DNA templates for TX-TL reactions. The in vivo measurements of promoter strength and in vitro measurements show similar relative strengths between the parts, showing the Pseudomonas-based TX-TL systems can be used for design-build-test activities in these non-model organisms. This alternate approach to developing tolerance, starting with a species that already has a working tolerance to the stressor in question, changes the problem to one of building engineering capabilities in the new chassis.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:synthetic biology, in vitro transcription-translation, non-model organisms, rapid prototyping
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Major Option:Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Murray, Richard M.
Thesis Committee:
  • Leadbetter, Jared R. (chair)
  • Newman, Dianne K.
  • Phillips, Robert B.
  • Murray, Richard M.
Defense Date:5 October 2022
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Institute for Collaborative BiotechnologiesW911NF-09-D-0001
Institute for Collaborative BiotechnologiesW911NF-19-2-0026
NSFCBET-1903477
U.S. Army Research OfficeW911NF-09-0001
International Human Frontiers Science Program OrganizationHFSP-TXTL
Projects:Development of in vitro transcription-translation systems with three wild-type pseudomonas species, Engineering transcriptional regulator effector specificity using computational design and in vitro rapid prototyping: developing a vanillin sensor, Engineering a synthetic microbial stress response
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:12022022-073109279
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:12022022-073109279
DOI:10.7907/9gbb-n831
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
https://doi.org/10.1021/acssynbio.5b00090DOIArticle adapted for Ch. 3
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Meyerowitz, Joseph Toshiro0000-0002-3426-0885
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:15071
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Joseph Meyerowitz
Deposited On:23 Jan 2023 18:05
Last Modified:08 May 2024 18:06

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