Abstract
Electronic information can be transmitted to cells directly from microelectronics via electrode-activated redox mediators. These transmissions are decoded by redox-responsive promoters which enable user-specified control over biological function. Here, we build on this redox communication modality by establishing an electronic eCRISPR conduit of information exchange. This system acts as a biological signal processor, amplifying signal reception and filtering biological noise. We electronically amplify bacterial quorum sensing (QS) signaling by activating LasI, the autoinducer-1 synthase. Similarly, we filter out unintended noise by inhibiting the native SoxRS-mediated oxidative stress response regulon. We then construct an eCRISPR based redox conduit in both E. coli and Salmonella enterica. Finally, we display eCRISPR based information processing that allows transmission of spatiotemporal redox commands which are then decoded by gelatin-encapsulated E. coli. We anticipate that redox communication channels will enable biohybrid microelectronic devices that could transform our abilities to electronically interpret and control biological function.
Highlights
Electronic information can be transmitted to cells directly from microelectronics via electrode-activated redox mediators
We first intended to create an inducible and tunable CRISPR-Cas[9] mediated transcriptional activation (CRISPRa) system that enabled integration with bacterial quorum sensing (QS) signal transduction systems based on E. coli W311052–58
Bikard et al had used native S. pyogenes promoters to express CRISPR components and employed tracrRNA:crRNA hybrids to present the spacers for CRISPRa of GFP33
Summary
Electronic information can be transmitted to cells directly from microelectronics via electrode-activated redox mediators These transmissions are decoded by redox-responsive promoters which enable user-specified control over biological function. Tunability could be achieved by controlling size, location, and electrode material[36,37,38,39], programmable chemical gradients could be created (e.g., electrophoresis, gelation)[40,41] and complex signal inputs can be applied to employ advanced signal processing methodologies on biological circuits[17] To this end, we work on the previously described bacterial CRISPRa system by Bikard et al involving the use of dCas9-ω as transcriptional activator[33] and built an electrically tunable and controllable CRISPRa system (eCRISPR). We show electronically programmed biological communication between bacterial cells
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
