Document Detail


Refactoring the nitrogen fixation gene cluster from Klebsiella oxytoca.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22509035     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Bacterial genes associated with a single trait are often grouped in a contiguous unit of the genome known as a gene cluster. It is difficult to genetically manipulate many gene clusters because of complex, redundant, and integrated host regulation. We have developed a systematic approach to completely specify the genetics of a gene cluster by rebuilding it from the bottom up using only synthetic, well-characterized parts. This process removes all native regulation, including that which is undiscovered. First, all noncoding DNA, regulatory proteins, and nonessential genes are removed. The codons of essential genes are changed to create a DNA sequence as divergent as possible from the wild-type (WT) gene. Recoded genes are computationally scanned to eliminate internal regulation. They are organized into operons and placed under the control of synthetic parts (promoters, ribosome binding sites, and terminators) that are functionally separated by spacer parts. Finally, a controller consisting of genetic sensors and circuits regulates the conditions and dynamics of gene expression. We applied this approach to an agriculturally relevant gene cluster from Klebsiella oxytoca encoding the nitrogen fixation pathway for converting atmospheric N(2) to ammonia. The native gene cluster consists of 20 genes in seven operons and is encoded in 23.5 kb of DNA. We constructed a "refactored" gene cluster that shares little DNA sequence identity with WT and for which the function of every genetic part is defined. This work demonstrates the potential for synthetic biology tools to rewrite the genetics encoding complex biological functions to facilitate access, engineering, and transferability.
Authors:
Karsten Temme; Dehua Zhao; Christopher A Voigt
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2012-04-16
Journal Detail:
Title:  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America     Volume:  109     ISSN:  1091-6490     ISO Abbreviation:  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.     Publication Date:  2012 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2012-05-02     Completed Date:  2012-07-10     Revised Date:  2013-05-20    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7505876     Medline TA:  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  7085-90     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Joint Graduate Group in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley/University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Base Sequence
DNA, Bacterial / genetics
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
Gene Knockout Techniques
Genes, Bacterial*
Genetic Techniques
Klebsiella oxytoca / genetics*,  growth & development,  metabolism
Multigene Family*
Nitrogen Fixation / genetics*
Nitrogenase / genetics,  metabolism
Operon
Oxidoreductases / genetics,  metabolism
Plasmids / genetics
Promoter Regions, Genetic
Ribosomes / metabolism
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/DNA, Bacterial; EC 1.-/Oxidoreductases; EC 1.18.6.1/Nitrogenase; EC 1.18.6.1/nitrogenase reductase
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Nat Rev Microbiol. 2012 Jun;10(6):378   [PMID:  22580366 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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