Synthetic Biology

Repurposing the mammalian RNA-binding protein Musashi-1 as an allosteric translation repressor in bacteria

1. Roswitha Dolcemascolo
2. María Heras-Hernández
3. Lucas Goiriz
4. Roser Montagud-Martínez
5. Alejandro Requena-Menéndez
6. Raúl Ruiz
7. Anna Pérez-Ràfols
8. R Anahí Higuera-Rodríguez
9. Guillermo Pérez-Ropero
10. Wim F Vranken
11. Tommaso Martelli
12. Wolfgang Kaiser
13. Jos Buijs
14. Guillermo Rodrigo

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This important study demonstrates the use of the mammalian Musashi-1 (MSI-1) RNA-binding protein as a tool for regulating gene expression in Escherichia coli. The authors provide convincing evidence that MSI-1 functions as an effective repressor of translation, and that MSI-1 can be allosterically controlled by oleic acid. This work establishes MSI-1 as a potential tool for synthetic biology applications, and the system developed here can be used for mechanistic studies of MSI-1.

Reviewed by eLife

Comprehensive mutagenesis maps the effect of all single-codon mutations in the AAV2 rep gene on AAV production

1. Nina K Jain
2. Pierce J Ogden
3. George M Church

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This study presents a valuable and comprehensive mutagenesis map of the AAV2 rep gene, which will undoubtedly capture the interest of scientists working with adeno-associated viruses and those engaged in the field of gene therapy. The thorough characterization of massive rep variants across multiple AAV production systems bolsters the claims made in the study, highlighting its utility in enhancing our understanding of Rep protein function and advancing gene therapy applications. The evidence presented is convincing and establishes a strong foundation that will stimulate and inform future research in the field.

Reviewed by eLife

Light-inducible protein degradation in E. coli with the LOVdeg tag

1. Nathan Tague
2. Cristian Coriano-Ortiz
3. Michael B Sheets
4. Mary J Dunlop

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This valuable study reports on a new tool that allows for light-controlled protein degradation in Escherichia coli. With the improved light-responsive protein tag, endogenous protein levels can be reduced severalfold. The methodology is convincing and will be of interest to the fields of gene expression regulation in bacteria and, more generally to synthetic biologists.

Reviewed by eLife

IS200/IS605 Family-Associated TnpB Increases Transposon Activity and Retention

1. Davneet Kaur
2. Thomas E. Kuhlman

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This important study uses an innovative set of reporter assays to probe the role of the TnpB protein in IS608 transposition. The work provides independent support for the recently reported homing activity of TnpB, where the transposon is restored following excision, and suggests an additional function for TnpB in enhancing the transposase activity of the TnpA transposase. The overall approach is solid, but the authors should consider how the activity of the TnpB protein used, or the levels of ωRNA, impact their model.

Reviewed by eLife

BRAIDing receptors for cell-specific targeting

1. Hui Chen
2. Sung-Jin Lee
3. Ryan Li
4. Asmiti Sura
5. Nicholas Suen
6. Archana Dilip
7. Yan Pomogov
8. Meghah Vuppalapaty
9. Timothy T Suen
10. Chenggang Lu
11. Yorick Post
12. Yang Li

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This important study presents a new way to selectively activate a cell signaling pathway in a specific cell type by designer ligands that link signaling co-receptors to a marker specific to the target cells. Convincing experimental results demonstrate that the agonist molecules activate Wnt signaling in target cells expressing the marker as intended. More broadly, this concept could be used to induce Wnt signaling or another pathway initiated by co-receptor association in a cell type-specific manner. In vitro results in this study could be further strengthened by assessing the biological consequences of Wnt activation in target cells.

Reviewed by eLife

Complex waste stream valorisation through combined enzymatic hydrolysis and catabolic assimilation by Pseudomonas putida

1. Guadalupe Alvarez-Gonzalez
2. Micaela Chacόn
3. Adokiye Berepiki
4. Karl Fisher
5. Piya Gosalvitr
6. Rosa Cuéllar-Franca
7. Neil Dixon

Reviewed by PREreview

Room Temperature Isothermal Colorimetric Padlock Probe Rolling Circle Amplification for Viral DNA and RNA Detection

1. Wilson Huang
2. Joyce Ting
3. Matthew Fang
4. Hannah Hsu
5. Jimmy Su
6. Tsuyoshi Misaki
7. Derek Chan
8. Justin Yang
9. Ting-Yu Yeh
10. Kelly Yang
11. Vera Chien
12. Tiffany Huang
13. Andrew Chen
14. Claire Wei
15. Jonathan Hsu
16. Jude C. Clapper

Reviewed by ScreenIT

“Monoclonal-type” plastic antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 based on Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

1. Ortensia Ilaria Parisi
2. Marco Dattilo
3. Francesco Patitucci
4. Rocco Malivindi
5. Vincenzo Pezzi
6. Ida Perrotta
7. Mariarosa Ruffo
8. Fabio Amone
9. Francesco Puoci

Reviewed by ScreenIT

A scalable framework for high-throughput identification of functional origins of replication in non-model bacteria

1. Charlie Gilbert
2. Stephanie L. Brumwell
3. Alexander Crits-Christoph
4. Shinyoung Clair Kang
5. Zaira Martin-Moldes
6. Wajd Alsharif
7. Ariela Esmurria
8. Mary-Anne Nguyen
9. Henry H. Lee
10. Nili Ostrov

Reviewed by Arcadia Science

Ribozyme activity modulates the physical properties of RNA–peptide coacervates

1. Kristian Kyle Le Vay
2. Elia Salibi
3. Basusree Ghosh
4. TY Dora Tang
5. Hannes Mutschler

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  Experimental models of simple cell-like compartments can help us to understand how biology operated early in its history. The authors convincingly show how the properties of coacervate droplets can be influenced by the activity of ribozymes inside them. This important result potentially provides a new route for biologists or chemists to establish cell mimics that support the evolution of biomolecules within.

Reviewed by eLife