Applications of Quorum Sensing Systems in Synthetic Biology

doi:10.13523/j.cb.2106043

China Biotechnology

2021, Vol. 41

Issue (11): 100-109 DOI: 10.13523/j.cb.2106043

Applications of Quorum Sensing Systems in Synthetic Biology

ZHENG Yi,GUO Shi-ying,SUI Feng-xiang,YANG Qi-yu,WEI Ya-xuan,LI Xiao-yan(

)

School of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China

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Abstract

Quorum sensing (QS) is an intercellular communication system found in many microorganisms. The autoinducers accumulate as the bacteria population grows. It can promote bacteria to acclimate current population density, regulate the formation of biofilm, and modulate the expression of specific genes. In recent years, researchers have been working on the principle of operation as well as the key elements of QS system and now we understand much more about them. These results would help us in designing a promising multi-system work using multiple methods of synthetic biology, and it can help researchers to take control of intercellular communication dynamically, which is particularly important. On the basis that quorum sensing is a cell-cell communication system, the research progress of the joint design of multiple quorum sensing systems in the automatic regulation of bio based chemicals production is reviewed. The application of quorum sensing system to realize two-way biological information exchange in the field of bioelectrochemical transformation is summarized. At the same time, this article summarizes the research progress of the combination of the dynamic regulation function of quorum sensing system and the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases in the medical field, and the expectation of development prospect.

Key words： Quorum sensing Intercellular communication Synthetic biology Dynamically regulate

Received: 23 June 2021 Published: 01 December 2021

ZTFLH:

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Corresponding Authors: Xiao-yan LI E-mail: xyli821187@163.com

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	Yi ZHENG
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	Qi-yu YANG
	Ya-xuan WEI
	Xiao-yan LI

Cite this article:

ZHENG Yi,GUO Shi-ying,SUI Feng-xiang,YANG Qi-yu,WEI Ya-xuan,LI Xiao-yan. Applications of Quorum Sensing Systems in Synthetic Biology. China Biotechnology, 2021, 41(11): 100-109.

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https://manu60.magtech.com.cn/biotech/10.13523/j.cb.2106043 OR https://manu60.magtech.com.cn/biotech/Y2021/V41/I11/100

Fig.1 Generalized model of quorum sensing Numbers in the flow charts represent different stages of the QS process. QS signal is synthesised by synthase and spread out of the cell. Those signals couldn’t be transported into cell due to diffusion or active transport until the threshold is reached. QS signals would bind transcription regulators in cell inner,the complex of them could bind QS promotor so that the expression of target gene could be regulated

Fig.2 Application of quorum sensing system to control engineering bacteria in biochemical production, bioelectrochemical transformation and medical fields Design engineering bacteria through the mutual combination of orthogonality quorum sensing system, quorum sensing system and a variety of technology combined with the exquisite design sense of self-induced substances, light, heat, metal ions, nucleic acid, antibodies and other signals, express the corresponding characters. (1) In the field of biochemistry production: dynamically regulate population density, inhibit the pathway of substrate conversion to non-target metabolites, so as to maximize substrate utilization; (2) In the field of bioelectrochemistry: induction and enhancement of group sensing system through electrical signals; (3) In the field of biomedicine: through the activation of visual signals for the detection of diseases, the construction of a new drug delivery system based on the characteristics of engineering bacteria


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