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Updated: Dec 31, 2025
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Engineering Adherent Bacteria by Creating a Single Synthetic Curli Operon
Published on: November 16, 2012
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Iron-Catalysed Radical Polymerisation by Living Bacteria.
Mechelle R Bennett1, Pratik Gurnani2, Phil J Hill3
1Division of Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park Campus, Nottingham, NG72RD, UK.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|January 3, 2020
Summary
Researchers developed a novel bacteria-mediated polymerization method using iron catalysis. This technique enables the creation of synthetic polymers within living bacterial cells, paving the way for hybrid biological-synthetic materials.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Synthetic Biology
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Cellular redox processes offer potential for abiotic synthesis.
- Engineered hybrid living systems require novel synthesis methods.
- Radical polymerization is a key technique in polymer synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a bacteria-mediated method for polymer synthesis.
- To utilize cellular redox processes for initiating polymerization.
- To create natural-synthetic hybrid structures.
Main Methods:
- Employed iron-catalyzed reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP).
- Utilized various metal-chelating agents and monomers under ambient conditions.
- Investigated three bacterial species (Cupriavidus metallidurans, Escherichia coli, Clostridium sporogenes) for redox initiation.
- Optimized parameters including cell/catalyst concentration and initiator/monomer types.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated water-soluble synthetic polymers in the presence of bacteria.
- Maintained full bacterial cell viability throughout the polymerization process.
- Demonstrated bacterial redox systems can initiate polymerization.
Conclusions:
- Developed a novel bacteria-mediated RDRP method for polymer synthesis.
- Enabled the generation of synthetic polymers within host bacterial cells.
- Opened possibilities for creating natural-synthetic hybrid structures and conjugates.
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