Engineered bacteria that self-assemble “bioglass” polysilicate coatings display enhanced light focusing
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Abstract
Abstract Photonic devices are cutting-edge optical materials that produce narrow, intense beams of light, but their synthesis typically requires toxic, complex methodology. Here we employ a synthetic biology approach to produce environmentally-friendly, living microlenses with tunable structural properties. We engineered Escherichia coli bacteria to display the silica biomineralization enzyme silicatein from aquatic sea sponges. Our silicatein-expressing bacteria can self-assemble a shell of polysilicate “bioglass” around themselves. Remarkably, the polysilicate-encapsulated bacteria can focus light into intense nanojets that are nearly an order of magnitude brighter than unmodified bacteria. Polysilicate-encapsulated bacteria are metabolically active for up to four months, potentially allowing them to sense and respond to stimuli over time. Our data demonstrate that engineered bacterial particles have the potential to revolutionize the development of multiple optical and photonic technologies. Significance Statement In this work, we apply the principles of synthetic biology to create living optical devices. Utilizing the ability of sea sponges to polymerize bioglass from silica precursors in the ocean water using only a single enzyme, silicatein, we have fused this same enzyme to the surface of Escherichia coli bacterial cells. The modified bacteria can polymerize a layer of bioglass at their surface. This bioglass shell allows the bacteria to act as engineered optical devices that are able to scatter high intensity, focused light while also surviving for several months, opening the door to a wide range of sense-and-respond applications. Classification Biological Sciences, Applied Biological Sciences
Authors 12
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Biology, University of Rochester; Rochester, New York, USA
University of Rochester
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester; Rochester, New York, USA
University of Rochester
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Affiliation as printed
Current affiliation: SunDensity Inc.; Rochester, New York 14604, USA
Institute of Optics, University of Rochester; Rochester, New York, USA
University of Rochester
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University of Colorado Boulder
Affiliation as printed
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder, Colorado, USA
University of Colorado Boulder
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University of Colorado Boulder
Affiliation as printed
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder, Colorado, USA
University of Colorado Boulder
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Lycka Kamoen Aachen
Leiden University · Delft University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Current affiliation: Institute of Biology, Leiden University; Leiden, The Netherlands
Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology; Delft, The Netherlands
Delft University of Technology
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Delft University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology; Delft, The Netherlands
Delft University of Technology
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Optics, University of Rochester; Rochester, New York, USA
University of Rochester
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Optics, University of Rochester; Rochester, New York, USA
University of Rochester
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University of Colorado Boulder
Affiliation as printed
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder, Colorado, USA
Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder, Colorado, USA
University of Colorado Boulder
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Biology, University of Rochester; Rochester, New York, USA
University of Rochester
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Anne S. Meyer corresponding
Affiliation as printed
Department of Biology, University of Rochester; Rochester, New York, USA
University of Rochester
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