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Induced Differentiation of M Cell-like Cells in Human Stem Cell-derived Ileal Enteroid Monolayers
Published on: July 26, 2019
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Inducible asymmetric cell division and cell differentiation in a bacterium
Nikolai V Mushnikov1, Anastasia Fomicheva1, Mark Gomelsky1
1Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.
Nature Chemical Biology
|August 14, 2019
Summary
Scientists engineered a genetic circuit for programmable bacterial cell differentiation in E. coli. This circuit controls cell type by regulating a protein that degrades a signaling molecule, enabling new synthetic biology tools.
Area of Science:
- Synthetic biology
- Microbiology
- Cell biology
Background:
- Multicellular organisms develop complexity via cell division producing diverse cell types.
- Controlling cell differentiation is crucial for understanding biological complexity and developing biotechnologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a genetic circuit for inducing asymmetric cell division and differentiation in Escherichia coli.
- To establish a method for controlling bacterial cell-type abundance using external stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Engineered a genetic circuit in E. coli utilizing a PopZ scaffolding protein.
- Functionalized PopZ to degrade cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP).
- Controlled PopZ synthesis using small molecules (chemical control) or light (optogenetic control).
Main Results:
- Achieved stable PopZ localization at a cell pole across multiple divisions.
- Demonstrated chemical and optogenetic control over c-di-GMP levels, creating two distinct cell types.
- Showcased how c-di-GMP differences can program protein assembly and gene expression for differential behaviors.
Conclusions:
- A simple genetic circuit can drive complex biological phenomena like cell differentiation.
- Programmable bacterial cell differentiation is now a viable tool in synthetic biology and biotechnology.
- This work expands the genetic toolbox for engineering cellular behaviors and functions.
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