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Engineering Adherent Bacteria by Creating a Single Synthetic Curli Operon
Published on: November 16, 2012
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Engineered bacteria that self-assemble bioglass polysilicate coatings display enhanced light focusing
Lynn M Sidor1, Michelle M Beaulieu2, Ilia Rasskazov3
1Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627.
Summary
Researchers engineered bacteria to create living microlenses. These bio-photonic components, made of silica bioglass, can focus light and offer a sustainable alternative to conventional microparticles.
Area of Science:
- Biophotonics
- Synthetic Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Photonic devices utilize microparticles for light manipulation.
- Conventional microparticle fabrication methods lack control and scalability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a sustainable and tunable method for producing micro-optical components.
- To engineer bacteria for self-assembly of light-focusing structures.
Main Methods:
- Engineered *Escherichia coli* to express silicatein, a silica biomineralization enzyme.
- Utilized bacteria to self-assemble a polysilicate (bioglass) shell.
- Characterized the optical properties and metabolic activity of the resulting bio-microlenses.
Main Results:
- Polysilicate-encapsulated bacteria formed functional microlenses.
- These living microlenses focused light into nanojets significantly brighter than unmodified bacteria.
- The bio-microlenses remained metabolically active for up to 4 months.
Conclusions:
- Synthetic biology provides a novel pathway for creating inexpensive, durable photonic components.
- Living microlenses offer tunable structural properties and unique optical functionalities.
- This approach presents a sustainable alternative for microparticle fabrication in optics.
