Development of a specific biosensor for sesquiterpene based on SELEX and directed evolution platforms
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Biosensors are essential in synthetic biology, particularly for detecting compounds without distinct visual markers. In this study, a riboswitch biosensor specifically responsive to a sesquiterpene - amorpha-4,11-diene was developed for the first time. Through SELEX-SMB, a high-affinity aptamer library comprising 81,520 sequences was generated. Subsequent screening via the TBG-directed evolution platform identified riboswitch5, which downregulates downstream gene expression in response to amorpha-4,11-diene within a concentration range of 10-100 mg/L, achieving a log₂Foldchange of -0.51 at 100 mg/L. Structural predictions, combined with molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, revealed that ligand binding induced conformational changes that stabilize the riboswitch and enhance its repressive effect. This biosensor represents a powerful tool for the detection and regulation of small molecules, with broad applications in strain engineering, pathway regulation, and metabolic optimization in synthetic biology.
Source: Talanta
Authors: Yiying Huo, Shiding Zhang, Haoran Bi, Kai Wang, Yunming Fang, Meng Wang, Tianwei Tan
Institution: Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,290
OpenAlex ID: W4404094300