Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 6, 2025
09:20
Reliably Engineering and Controlling Stable Optogenetic Gene Circuits in Mammalian Cells
Published on: July 6, 2021
2.6K
Programming gene expression in multicellular organisms for physiology modulation through engineered bacteria.
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Nature Communications
|May 12, 2021
Summary
Scientists engineered bacteria to control animal physiology. This bacteria-animal symbiont system programs gene expression and traits in Caenorhabditis elegans using RNA interference, offering new applications in agriculture and medicine.
Area of Science:
- Synthetic biology
- Microbiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Synthetic biology aims to reprogram living systems for specific tasks.
- Programming animal physiology is complex and challenging.
- Existing methods primarily focus on microorganisms and cell lines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a bacteria-animal symbiont system for programming animal physiology.
- To demonstrate external signal recognition and modulation of animal gene expression by engineered bacteria.
- To utilize RNA interference for controlling specific genes and phenotypes in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Main Methods:
- Engineered bacteria were designed to recognize external signals.
- Genetic circuits in bacteria controlled RNA interference targeting specific genes (gfp, sbp-1, unc-22) in C. elegans.
- The system modulated animal gene expression, twitching phenotype, and fat metabolism.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated successful modulation of C. elegans gene expression and phenotype via engineered bacteria.
- Showcased the ability to program animal physiology using logic gates implemented in bacterial genetic circuits.
- Confirmed RNA interference's role in altering specific traits like twitching and fat metabolism.
Conclusions:
- Engineered bacteria can serve as a platform to program animal physiology.
- The bacteria-animal symbiont system offers a novel approach for controlling biological functions in animals.
- Potential applications include agriculture, therapeutics, and fundamental biological research.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Constitutive and Regulated Gene Expression
367
Gene expression in prokaryotes is governed by constitutive and regulated systems, allowing cells to balance the production of essential proteins with adaptive responses to environmental changes.Constitutive Gene ExpressionConstitutive, or housekeeping, genes are continuously expressed as they encode proteins vital for fundamental cellular processes. These include enzymes for glycolysis, ribosomal components for protein synthesis, and proteins involved in DNA replication. Their constant...
367
01:20The Central Dogma
30.4K
The central dogma explains the flow of genetic information from DNA nucleotides to the amino acid sequence of proteins.
RNA is the Missing Link Between DNA and Proteins
In the early 1900s, scientists discovered that DNA stores all the information needed for cellular functions and that proteins perform most of these functions. However, the mechanisms of converting genetic information into functional proteins remained unknown for many years. Initially, it was believed that a single gene is...
RNA is the Missing Link Between DNA and Proteins
In the early 1900s, scientists discovered that DNA stores all the information needed for cellular functions and that proteins perform most of these functions. However, the mechanisms of converting genetic information into functional proteins remained unknown for many years. Initially, it was believed that a single gene is...
30.4K
01:58Cell Specific Gene Expression
14.4K
Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
14.4K
01:29Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria
290
The DNA replication, transcription, and translation processes are intricately coupled in bacteria, allowing efficient gene expression and rapid protein synthesis. While this physical and functional coordination is advantageous, it introduces challenges that bacteria overcome through specific regulatory mechanisms.Coupling of Replication, Transcription, and TranslationThe coupling of replication, transcription, and translation is a hallmark of bacterial gene expression. As the replisome unwinds...
290
01:28Global Regulatory Systems
252
Global regulatory systems in bacteria enable rapid and coordinated responses to environmental changes by integrating sensory inputs with gene expression, ensuring efficient adaptation to fluctuating conditions. Key global regulatory mechanisms include regulons, two-component systems, sigma factors, and secondary messengers.Regulons and Global RegulatorsA regulon is a collection of genes and operons controlled by a common global regulator. These regulators enable bacteria to prioritize resource...
252
02:11Reporter Genes
12.3K
Reporter genes are a type of protein-coding gene that are often tagged to a gene of interest. Once inside a target cell, reporter genes usually produce visually identifiable characteristics like fluorescence and luminescence when expressed along with the gene of interest. Thus, reporter genes “report” the presence or absence of genes of interest in an organism, determine the gene expression pattern, or track the physical location of a DNA segment or protein in the cell.
12.3K