Team:NTU-Taida/PEPDEX

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{{:Team:NTU-Taida/Templates/BSHero|Title=Circuit|Content=<p>The main circuit is designed to detect the presence of fatty acid in the intestinal environment and produce the peptide drug (GLP-1 in this case) and cell penetrating peptide (CPP) as response. There are two core systems: double repressors and quorum sensing.
{{:Team:NTU-Taida/Templates/BSHero|Title=Circuit|Content=<p>The main circuit is designed to detect the presence of fatty acid in the intestinal environment and produce the peptide drug (GLP-1 in this case) and cell penetrating peptide (CPP) as response. There are two core systems: double repressors and quorum sensing.
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==Reference==
==Reference==
-
<span id='Ref1'>[1] The Gut Hormones PYY3-36 and GLP-17-36 amide Reduce Food Intake and Modulate Brain Activity in Appetite Centers in Humans.</span>
+
<ul>
-
 
+
<li id='Ref1'>[1] The Gut Hormones PYY3-36 and GLP-17-36 amide Reduce Food Intake and Modulate Brain Activity in Appetite Centers in Humans.</li>
-
<span id='Ref2'>[2] The gastrointestinal tract and the regulation of appetite.</span>
+
<li id='Ref2'>[2] The gastrointestinal tract and the regulation of appetite.</li>
-
 
+
<li id='Ref3'>[3] The Multiple Actions of GLP-1 on the Process of Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion</li>
-
<span id='Ref3'>[3] The Multiple Actions of GLP-1 on the Process of Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion</span>
+
<li id='Ref4'>[4] Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Plasmid Construction and Delivery for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.</li>
-
 
+
<li id='Ref5'>[5] Design of a dynamic sensor-regulator system for production of chemicals and fuels derived from fatty acids.</li>
-
<span id='Ref4'>[4] Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Plasmid Construction and Delivery for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.</span>
+
<li id='Ref6'>[6] Unexpected Functional Diversity among FadR Fatty Acid Transcriptional Regulatory Proteins.</li>
-
 
+
<li id='Ref7'>[7] Oral biodrug delivery using cell-penetrating peptide</li>
-
<span id='Ref5'>[5] Design of a dynamic sensor-regulator system for production of chemicals and fuels derived from fatty acids.</span>
+
<li id='Ref8'>[8] Efficiency of cell-penetrating peptides on the nasal and intestinal absorption of therapeutic peptides and proteins.</li>
-
 
+
<li id='Ref9'>[9] Cellular Uptake of Arginine-Rich Peptides: Roles for Macropinocytosis and Actin Rearrangement</li>
-
<span id='Ref6'>[6] Unexpected Functional Diversity among FadR Fatty Acid Transcriptional Regulatory Proteins.</span>
+
<li id='Ref10'>[10] Biology of Incretins: GLP-1 and GIP</li>
-
 
+
<li id='Ref11'>[11] Crystal structure of FadR, a fatty acid-responsive transcription factor with a novel acyl coenzyme A-binding fold.</li>
-
<span id='Ref7'>[7] Oral biodrug delivery using cell-penetrating peptide</span>
+
<li id='Ref12'>[12] Obesity and Overweight</li>
-
 
+
<li id='Ref13'>[13] Active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1): Storage of human plasma and stability over time.</li>
-
<span id='Ref8'>[8] Efficiency of cell-penetrating peptides on the nasal and intestinal absorption of therapeutic peptides and proteins.</span>
+
<li id='Ref14'>[14] One week's treatment with the long-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 derivative liraglutide (NN2211) markedly improves 24-h glycemia and alpha- and beta-cell function and reduces endogenous glucose release in patients with type 2 diabetes</li>
-
 
+
<li id='Ref15'>[15] Attenuated GLP-1 secretion in obesity: cause or consequence?</li>
-
<span id='Ref9'>[9] Cellular Uptake of Arginine-Rich Peptides: Roles for Macropinocytosis and Actin Rearrangement</span>
+
</ul>
-
 
+
-
<span id='Ref10'>[10] Biology of Incretins: GLP-1 and GIP</span>
+
-
 
+
-
<span id='Ref11'>[11] Crystal structure of FadR, a fatty acid-responsive transcription factor with a novel acyl coenzyme A-binding fold.</span>
+
-
 
+
-
<span id='Ref12'>[12] Obesity and Overweight</span>
+
-
 
+
-
<span id='Ref13'>[13] Active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1): Storage of human plasma and stability over time.</span>
+
-
 
+
-
<span id='Ref14'>[14] One week's treatment with the long-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 derivative liraglutide (NN2211) markedly improves 24-h glycemia and alpha- and beta-cell function and reduces endogenous glucose release in patients with type 2 diabetes</span>
+
-
 
+
-
<span id='Ref15'>[15] Attenuated GLP-1 secretion in obesity: cause or consequence?</span>
+
-
 
+
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Revision as of 14:43, 25 September 2012

Circuit

The main circuit is designed to detect the presence of fatty acid in the intestinal environment and produce the peptide drug (GLP-1 in this case) and cell penetrating peptide (CPP) as response. There are two core systems: double repressors and quorum sensing.

NTU-Taida-Circuit-all.png

Contents

Double Repressors

The double repressor system consists of the genes encoded Tet Repressor Protein (tetR) and lac reprresor (lacI). We put tetR downstream of fad promoter (Pfad) and lacI downstream of tet promoter (Ptet). The DNA sequence encoded GLP-1 and CPP are placed downstream of lac promoter (Plac).

NTU-Taida-Circuit-const-fadR.png
NTU-Taida-Circuit-Pfad-Ptet-Plac.png

In the absence of fatty acid, a constitutive expressed fatty acid metabolism regulator protein FadR binds to Pfad, which represses the transcription of tetR and makes Ptet free of TetR. Therefore LacI is expressed, binds to Plac and blocks the production of GLP-1 and CPP. After intake of a fat-rich meal, the fatty acid biosensor FadR is inhibited by the fatty acyl-CoA, which leads to the expression of TetR. The repression of the transcription of lacI by TetR frees the Plac from LacI and leads the final production of GLP-1 and CPP. When there is lactose in the intestinal environment (after drinking milk), the lactose can halt the repression of Plac directly by binding to LacI. GLP-1 and CPP can also be produced in this case.

Quorum Sensing

In order to amplify the response and to recruit other bacteria to work together when there are only a few of bacteria sense the fatty acid, a quorum sensing system is also included in our circuit. We place luxI downstream of Pfad and another tetR downstream of lux promoter (Plux). At the same time, the expression of LuxR is constantly driven by a constitutive promoter. When a single bacterium detects the fatty acid, LuxI is expressed and it catalyzes the synthesis of N-Acyl homoserine lactone (AHL). AHL activates the LuxR and binds to Plux, results in extra expression of TetR and amplifies the production of GLP-1 and CPP. AHL can be released into the environment and other bacteria that uptake the AHL can be recruited and start producing GLP-1 and CPP as well.

NTU-Taida-Circuit-const-Plux.png


Appetite Regulating Hormone

Obesity has been regarded as chronic disease recent decades. It is reported that obese people are in a higher risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Nowadays, there are 1 billion people encountering over-weight problem, and 30 million people are diagnosed of obesity. Modern dietary pattern has been considered the major cause contributing to the phenomena.[12]

Incretins are a group of gastrointestinal hormones secreted by endocrine cells in small intestine that mainly work to increase insulin levels. Among all the incretins, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is one of the most widely used appetite inhibiting hormone for treating obese patients [1]. In normal physiological condition GLP-1 is secreted by intestinal L cells after a meal, promoting insulin release and inhibit energy intake [2]. The effect on feeding is signaling through G-protein coupled receptor in solitary tract and brainstem [3]. Beside appetite regulating effect, GLP-1 is also well known for its insulinotropic effect, which is useful for treating type II diabetes[14].


NTU-Taida-Circuit-GLP-multi-functions.png

Thermal Promoter

Phs thermal promoter (toxin, anti-toxin)

E. coli is pretty sensitive and responsive to temperature changes. We brought promoter Phs, located within dnaG, and transient induced to temperature upshift, to our circuit. As described by Wayne E. Talyor et al., Phs can forward upregulation of a series of proteins. The increase activity of Phs promoter is partially compatible with the increase synthesis of sigma factor. The quick respsonse of Phs is suitable since its the sigma factor synthesis peaks 10 minutes after the temperature upshift, and so does Phs RNA levels. The increase ratio before and after the temperature can be more than 20 folds. On particular note, Phs is lack of consensus region over -10 region, which explains its poor activity in 30 Celsuius degree. Thus, Phs is marked as a candidate in our circuit, which can only be functional after ingestion into human body.

We incorporate toxin and anti-toxin into our circuit, as a sensitive device to the environment. Holin, a membrane bound protein, can form complex with each other and trigger the disruption of the membrane. Anti-holin, which is bound to inner membrane, can bind and inactivate Holin. We put Holin under lac repressor control, and when temperature raises, the synthesis of Holin is repressed by LacI, and anti-Holin synthesis also add on to circumvent the lysis of the bacteria. However, when the temperature goes down, the synthesis Holin would not be suppressed, and thus poise for the cellular lysis. This design can make sure that our E. coli would not spread and grow outside of human body.

NTU-Taida-Circuit-Phs-PlacI.png

Modified promoter cI with CIts

This circuit involves a thermosensitive cI promoter under the expression of a strong promoter, J23119, and is followed by a CI promoter (PcI) region and reporter of desire. The whole composite circuit is designed by Harvard iGEM team, 2008. Under conditions demonstrated before, its increase of reporter expression after temperature upshift is minimal (1.8 fold). And thus, we design novel cI promoter region with alterer binding affinity to CIts repressor in search of better efficiency. The circuit aims to provide stable and sustainable GLP-1 synthesis inside human body, that is, the bacteria showed no ability to secret GLP-1 outside of human body under room temperature, under which the PcI is suppressed by CIts.

NTU-Taida-Circuit-const-PCI.png



Stability and Safety

Every GM system that will function outside lab will face two major problems:system stability and safety! Without selective pressure ,we have to deal with plasmid instability ; to make our coli colonized bowel we have to use recA+ strains which may cause plasmid multimer. Our GM coli will also contact with many kinds of bacteria at the risk of horizontal gene transfer.

The following segment is our struggle against these obstacles.

Stability of Delivery System

Briefing

As our system will function outside the labrotory and human gut lack for antibiotic selection pressure, the vector stability is the critical point that determine whether our system is applicable or not. Inspired by natural plasmid & mobile gene element, we cope up with vector instability by incorporating partition system, Multimer resolution system and toxin antitoxin system these modules into our design.

Obstacles

Sources of plasmid instability:

  1. Segregational instability

    Plasmids are unevenly distributed inside bacterium, after cell division, some progeny might loss plasmid.

    NTU-Taida-Par1.png
  2. Burden Effect

    The plasmid free cells sure will grow better than those bearing plasmids because they don't have to spend energy/resources on our pepdEX system, so this growth rate difference will finally eliminate plasmid-bearing bacteria in population

    NTU-Taida-Burden3.png
  3. Dimer Catastrophe

    Homologues recombination may cause plasmid multimers which will increases segregational instability and burden, this is the reason why most lab coli are recA1 mutants. But so that our coli must able to colonize gut, it should be recA+ wild type strain. That's the problem!

    NTU-Taida-Mrs-1.png

Stabilization Modules

1. Multimer Resolution System:Tn1000(gamma delta) resolution system

structure of MRS
To deal with multimerization, we clone an cassette which encodes an autoregulated resolvase(serine type recombinase)from E.coli F plasmid transposon tn1000(tn3 family). Its promoter region consists of 3 sub-sites(res site) and can process recombination. This cassette can resolve multimer that formed during replicative transposition, so it can also resolve plasmid multimer providing plasmid stability by avoiding dimer catastrophe. For this reason, it is multimer resolution system(MRS) that provide analogous function as E.coli chromosome XerCD/dif but acts independent of cell cycle, DNA localization and may have higher efficiency on plasmids compared with slow XerCD system.
NTU-Taida-Mrs-4.png
NTU-Taida-Mrs-3.png


2. Partition System:from Pseudomonas putidaKT2440

Just like many low copy plasmid, bacterial chromosome distribute chromosome evenly to their progeny by certain dynamic system. These systems include SMC like proteins, type Ia partition system and so on. Type Ia partition system segregate chromosome/plasmid in a process akin to Eukaryotic mitosis,it can be found on most eubacteria but E.coli is not the case.
NTU-Taida-Par2.png
Previous study have shown that when provide parAB of P.putida in trans, the low copy plasmid(mini F)carrying conserved parS site can be stabilized in E.coli.(Anne-Marie etl. 2002)pSB2K3 is mini F plasmid thus can be stabilized by this way too, we make a new version of pSB2K3 with parS site. This plasmid that have lower gene dosage(copy number)and can be partitioned is an ideal vector to harbor our pepdEX system.
NTU-Taida-Par3.png
NTU-Taida-Par4.png

3. Post-Segregation Killing:srnBC toxin-antitoxin system

No matter how well partition system and multimer resolution system work, inevitably there still will have some bacteria losing plasmid. We sentence them to death to solve the problem.
NTU-Taida-TAgrenade.png Work hard or Die hard!!!
Type I toxin-antitoxin srnBC is an ideal executor which belongs to hok/sok homologues, it expresses stable toxin encoded RNA and short lived antitoxin RNA that can neutralize toxin RNA by RNA interaction and RNase III cleavage. It acts as post segregation killing system, which kills bacteria when it loss the DNA(genomic islands, plasmids, mobile gene elements) that contains it. Therefore we use it to reduce plasmid loss rate and make applications without antibiotic selection more feasible.
NTU-Taida-SrnBC-Mechanism1.png
NTU-Taida-SrnBC-Mechanism2.png


4. Reduce Burden Effect

Besides these modules, reducing the burden effect is also important to the system stability. Well designed system and lower gene dosage may help.
High level gene expression and gene dosage cause burden effect. If having the same outcome, low copy plasmid is preferred to high copy ones. If having the same outcome and not for regulatory purpose, stabilizing mRNA is preferred to overexpression it. Place yourselves in E.coli's position, reduce its metabolic burden as much as possible then it can work for you.
NTU-Taida-Burden2.png


Modeling and Application

How to model plasmid instability:

We use Cooper's model (Cooper, N.S., M.E. Brown, and C.A. Caulcott, A ) to model plasmid instability, and set a protocol to suggest users which modules can be used to prove their system stability. Click upper button "modeling" for detail or press following link.

NTU-Taida-Negative du.jpg


Safety of Delivery System

Many turn off strategies have been developed, most of these are the inducible suicide system that can be activated at certain condition. For instance, in our project, we plan to use temperature and small molecule as activating signals( following picture). When the course of treatment ends, administration of small amount of tetracycline agonist will induce bacterial to commit suicide, leaving human body also cause suicide gene activation thereby avoid recombinant strain/gene polluting. And splitting suicide system to provide repression in trans can prevent plasmid transfering to wild type strains. There have been many off-the-rack parts can be used.

new idea about safety
general scheme of suicide system

However, these design cannot totally eliminate the risk of horizontal gene transfer(HGT), which recombinant genes can move to other organisms independent of suicide system. So besides suicide system, we have a new idea to deal with these kinds of HGT risks by RNA interaction.

Although bacteria lack for RNAi pathway, expressing well designed antisense RNAs have been shown to have inhibitory effect on target RNAs through competitive inhibition, and recent study showed that peptide nucleic acid (PNA) that antisense to antitoxin RNA 5' sequence can cause bacteria death. Putting appropriate antisense RNAs on untranslated region of transcripts may interfere target RNA function or translation. This property might be used to prevent HGT. For instance, HGT is more likely to occur between related species like lab E.coli & O157, laboratory E.coli have inactivated all its hok/sok toxin-antitoxin system by mutation, but wild bacteria especially pathogenic bacteria usually have more active TA locus on its chromosome like E.coli O157. we plan to put a stem loop from hok mRNA which can pair with sok RNA 5’sequence on UTR of antibiotic resistance genes we used in pepdEX system. IF wild bacteria steal our antibiotic resistance genes and express it, its antitoxin will be competitive inhibited and its toxin will express and kill the thief thus preventing HGT between lab & wild coli. This idea can have wide extension. Besides targeting antitoxin (functional RNA) of type I TA, designing antisense sequences that target RBS to down regulate targeted protein is also possible. Targeting antitoxin of type II TA, essential genes for metabolism, housekeeping genes and any sequences exist in potential HGT receivers but not our coli can be used. Even if the design cannot kill thieves, it can weaken receivers and reduce advantages antibiotic genes bring about thus reduce possibility and danger of HGT.

In the past the repression efficiencies of antisense RNA in bacteria are low, but after invention of the paired termini antisense RNA(PTasRNA) method and incorporate U turn/YUNR motif etc., this idea will become more and more feasible.

new idea about safety
Is it possible to use RNA interaction to avoid HGT?


Reference

  • [1] The Gut Hormones PYY3-36 and GLP-17-36 amide Reduce Food Intake and Modulate Brain Activity in Appetite Centers in Humans.
  • [2] The gastrointestinal tract and the regulation of appetite.
  • [3] The Multiple Actions of GLP-1 on the Process of Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion
  • [4] Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Plasmid Construction and Delivery for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.
  • [5] Design of a dynamic sensor-regulator system for production of chemicals and fuels derived from fatty acids.
  • [6] Unexpected Functional Diversity among FadR Fatty Acid Transcriptional Regulatory Proteins.
  • [7] Oral biodrug delivery using cell-penetrating peptide
  • [8] Efficiency of cell-penetrating peptides on the nasal and intestinal absorption of therapeutic peptides and proteins.
  • [9] Cellular Uptake of Arginine-Rich Peptides: Roles for Macropinocytosis and Actin Rearrangement
  • [10] Biology of Incretins: GLP-1 and GIP
  • [11] Crystal structure of FadR, a fatty acid-responsive transcription factor with a novel acyl coenzyme A-binding fold.
  • [12] Obesity and Overweight
  • [13] Active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1): Storage of human plasma and stability over time.
  • [14] One week's treatment with the long-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 derivative liraglutide (NN2211) markedly improves 24-h glycemia and alpha- and beta-cell function and reduces endogenous glucose release in patients with type 2 diabetes
  • [15] Attenuated GLP-1 secretion in obesity: cause or consequence?