Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Generating Controlled, Dynamic Chemical Landscapes to Study Microbial Behavior
Published on: January 31, 2020
Sensor-regulator and RNAi based bifunctional dynamic control network for engineered microbial synthesis
Yaping Yang1, Yuheng Lin1, Jian Wang1
1School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
Abstract:
Writing artificial logic and dynamic function into complex cellular background to achieve desired phenotypes or improved outputs calls for the development of new genetic tools as well as their innovative use. In this study, we present a sensor-regulator and RNAi-based bifunctional dynamic control network that can provide simultaneous upregulation and downregulation of cellular metabolism for engineered biosynthesis. The promoter-regulator-mediated upregulation function and its transduced downregulation function through RNAi are systematically verified and characterized. We apply this dynamic control network to regulate the phosphoenolpyruvate metabolic node in Escherichia coli and achieve autonomous distribution of carbon flux between its native metabolism and the engineered muconic acid biosynthetic pathway. This allows muconic acid biosynthesis to reach 1.8 g L-1. This study also suggests the circumstances where dynamic control approaches are likely to take effects.
Related Concept Videos
Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth
Chemical Agents for Microbial Control
Biological Methods for Microbial Control
Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The...
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature

