Articles tagged with Synthetic Biology
A study published in Science Advances has revealed promising alternative pathways to overcome photorespiration, which can reduce crop productivity by up to 36%. The researchers identified mechanisms that could improve plant productivity while adapting to climate change and growing global food demands.
A new study by researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo hints that calcium ions played a crucial role in shaping life's earliest molecular structures. The team discovered that calcium dramatically alters how tartaric acid molecules link together, favoring homochiral polymers and potentially influencing the emergence of life.
A new reverse genetics system for African swine fever virus (ASFV) has been developed, enabling rapid vaccine development and research into the virus's biology. This technology can be adapted for other viruses, including lumpy skin disease, Zika, chikungunya, and Ebola viruses.
Researchers at MIT successfully triggered a key enzyme in starfish egg cells using different patterns of light, prompting predictable movements and contractions. The study provides a new optical tool for controlling cell shape in its earliest developmental stages.
Researchers at Heidelberg University successfully produced nanotubes folded into cytoskeleton-like structures using the RNA origami technique. This breakthrough enables synthetic cells to manufacture their own building blocks, opening new perspectives on directed evolution.
Researchers developed FAST-NPS, a new automated method to discover and scale up bioactive natural products from Streptomyces. The method uses self-resistance genes as markers to prioritize biosynthetic gene clusters with bioactivity.
Researchers have developed a highly sensitive water contamination detection tool using a cantilever-based test that can detect metals like lead and cadmium at concentrations down to two and one parts per billion. The technology merges synthetic biology and nanotechnology, enabling rapid detection of chemicals in water.
Researchers designed functional serine hydrolase enzymes using a novel machine learning network, predicting precise atomic structures of enzyme active sites. The approach successfully created enzymes capable of efficiently catalyzing complex reactions, yielding five distinct enzyme folds.
A recent study found that polyester microdroplets can form in salt-rich environments, at low alpha-hydroxy acid concentrations, and in small reaction volumes. This expands on previous research and suggests that polyester protocells were likely more common on early Earth than previously thought.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a new method for customizing engineered living materials (ELMs) by altering protein matrices. The study revealed that small genetic changes can significantly impact the behavior of these materials, making them ideal for applications like tissue engineering and drug delivery.
Researchers at Umeå University have developed next-generation chemo-optogenetic tools that enable precise control of proteins in real-time in living cells. The new molecular glues can be turned on or off using light, allowing for multiple activation cycles and overcoming limitations of previous systems.
A team of scientists developed a computational design tool called SPaDES to create new membrane receptors that outperform natural counterparts. The new receptors were designed by optimizing water-mediated interactions, resulting in higher stability and signaling efficiency.
The final synthetic chromosome unlocks new possibilities in metabolic engineering and strain optimisation, enabling the generation of genetic diversity on demand. The achievement represents a major milestone in synthetic biology and has important implications for future genome engineering projects.
Researchers developed an AI model that simulates 500 million years of protein evolution to design a previously unknown bright fluorescent protein. The model uses a multimodal generative language model called ESM3 to generate and synthesize proteins.
Scientists at the University of Stuttgart have developed a new tool for synthetic biology using DNA nanorobots that can alter artificial cells. These nanorobots enable the formation of transport channels in synthetic cell membranes, allowing large molecules to pass through and facilitating the transportation of therapeutic proteins.
Researchers developed a 'volume dial' to amplify weak signals in the human body and environment. The system, called ROSALIND, can detect contaminants like E. coli and heavy metals at lower concentrations than previous models.
Researchers will analyze tissue samples from 100 patients over three years to understand why some respond better than others to biologic and targeted therapies. The study aims to improve matching of treatments to individual patients, reducing the guesswork and cost associated with ineffective treatment.
Researchers have made a major breakthrough in synthetic biology by developing a new construction kit for building custom sense-and-respond circuits in human cells. The new approach harnesses the power of phosphorylation to amplify weak input signals into macroscopic outputs, enabling rapid response times and sensitivity to external sig...
The team developed a Synthetic Translational Coupling Element (SynTCE) that enhances the precision and integration density of genetic circuits in synthetic biology. This allows for more efficient gene circuit integration, minimizing interference between biological parts and enabling precise control over multiple genes.
Engineered yeast cells can form cooperative groups that perform complex tasks and self-regulate in response to external signals. This approach enables precise production of therapeutic compounds, reducing waste and increasing treatment efficacy.
Researchers discuss lifeforms composed of mirror-image biological molecules, also known as 'mirror life', which could evade immune mechanisms and predators, posing significant risks. The authors call for careful consideration and preemption of risks before creation, noting that such organisms would likely cause lethal infection in huma...
Researchers at IBEC are developing Phagocytic Synthetic Cells (PSCs) to target antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The innovative cells use programmable membranes to eliminate harmful bacteria, offering a potential solution to the growing antimicrobial resistance crisis.
Scientists have captured 3D snapshots of individual RNA nanoparticles in motion, showcasing the dynamic and intricate folding process. This breakthrough uses advanced electron microscopy to study RNA's flexibility, enabling new insights into its structure and potential applications in molecular medicine.
The Evo model can generate DNA sequences up to whole-genome scale with unparalleled accuracy, enabling the design of complex biological systems. It achieves high accuracy in predictive and generative tasks, grasping intricate coevolution between coding and noncoding sequences.
Scientists have designed bioluminescent proteins that can produce multiple colors of light for real-time imaging in cellular and animal models. These proteins are small, efficient, highly stable and can be used for non-invasive bioimaging, diagnostics, drug discovery and more.
Researchers have successfully synthesized simple, environmentally sensitive cells with artificial organelles and emulated natural cell-cell communication. The protocells use light-responsive molecules and calcium ions to transmit signals between cells, paving the way for synthetic tissue development and therapeutic applications.
Scientists have engineered synthetic genes that can assemble into complex biomaterials like nanoscale tubes, using a modular approach similar to building furniture. This breakthrough enables the creation of distinct materials that can spontaneously develop from a finite set of parts by rewiring the timing of molecular instructions.
Researchers demonstrate the first cross-chiral exponential amplification of an RNA enzyme, potentially leading to the development of cross-chiral therapeutics and biotechnologies. The discovery suggests that a bioengineer can create a new form of biochemical evolution by using both left- and right-handed molecules.
Scientists create synthetic biology approach to mechanistically study tissue patterning and engineer organoid structures by combining morphogens with cell adhesion control. The model system reveals a key feature of E-cadherin for forming sharp boundaries in synthetic tissue domains.
Researchers from Aachen University of Technology, HHU and Michigan State University create artificial microbial communities using computer models. These communities can perform specific functions, such as disease mitigation or CO2 capture, and are designed to be scalable and versatile.
Researchers at Boston University discovered a new method to harness self-amplifying RNA to create more effective vaccines. The modified saRNA vaccine protected mice from severe COVID-19 disease with a lower dose than current mRNA vaccines. Longer duration of protein expression and reduced inflammation were also observed.
A novel synthetic biology platform enables rapid and cost-effective transformation of protein binders into high-contrast nanosensors for various applications. The platform uses fluorogenic amino acids to increase fluorescence up to 100-fold, enabling the detection of specific proteins, peptides, and small molecules.
Researchers have developed a novel, more selective inhibitor of the human immunoproteasome using a bacterially derived natural product. The new compound targets autoimmune diseases without disrupting other cellular mechanisms.
Researchers at Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology developed a novel approach to create degradable living plastics by programming spores to secrete enzymes that break down plastic. The 'living plastics' degrade efficiently within 6-7 days, outperforming regular plastics even with surface damage.
Scientists at Macquarie University propose using genetically engineered black soldier flies to transform waste management and sustainable biomanufacturing. The flies can consume large volumes of waste quickly, producing valuable industrial inputs such as enzymes and lipids.
Beneficial bacteria like Bacillus subtilis possess memory and express genes associated with colonization and symbiosis for generations after being detached from their host. This multigenerational inheritance stabilizes interactions with their host, enabling efficient recolonization.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed a method to load therapeutic cargo into extracellular vesicles, effectively delivering engineered proteins to specific diseased cells. This approach could enable more effective and affordable biological medicines for diseases like immunotherapy and regenerative medicine.
Experts at the University of Bristol have identified potential hazards in AI research for engineering biology, including inconsistencies in measurements and privacy concerns. The study proposes additional data hazard labels to describe these risks, aiming to ensure the safe development of novel biological compounds.
Researchers propose a new way to teach synthetic biology, breaking it down into five components: molecular, circuit/network, cellular, biological communities and societal. The approach incorporates ethics at each scale, with successful piloting in Northwestern University courses.
Dorothee Dormann and Edward Lemke propose a new concept to measure the individual risk of getting age-related diseases by analyzing protein clumps in cells. This 'protein aggregation clock' could help diagnose age-related diseases at early stages or identify people at higher risk.
Researchers developed a prodrug delivery method using a commensal Lactobacillus strain that binds specifically to cancer cells, releasing the chemotherapy drug SN-38 directly at the tumour site. This approach reduces tumour growth by 67% and increases chemotherapy drug effectiveness by 54% in preclinical models of nasopharyngeal cancer.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have successfully produced the QS-21 adjuvant in yeast, which is currently extracted from tree bark. The production process is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than traditional methods, making it a promising solution for lowering vaccine costs and increasing availability.
Scientists from OIST created synthetic droplets to mimic biological processes, finding that pH gradients facilitate Marangoni effect and enabling droplets to detect and migrate towards each other. This study sheds light on the movement of simplest forms of life in primordial soup billions of years ago.
A team of scientists discovered new fusion sites in protein evolution that enable faster and more targeted drug development. By combining evolutionary processes with synthetic biology, they created customized biological drugs with improved therapeutic properties.
Researchers at Rice University have found a way to modify blood-glucose sensors to detect the anticancer drug afimoxifene. The breakthrough technology could enable the creation of universally applicable automated dosing systems for virtually any drug.
A team of researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to enhance the nutritional profile and flavor of fungi, creating a new source of plant-based food alternatives. The modified fungi produce heme and ergothioneine, which can improve cardiovascular health benefits.
Researchers at Cornell University have created a new version of the Vibrio natriegens microbe to speed up biological discovery, enabling cost-effective and scalable synthetic biology experiments. This microbe can be engineered within hours and works effectively without costly equipment, making it ideal for testing protein variants.
Researchers at Imperial College London created a novel molecular toolkit to enhance compound production in yeast communities. The toolkit allowed them to split the resveratrol production pathway, resulting in enhanced production and more stable partnerships between yeast strains.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a new technique to study the breakdown of cellulose by enzymes, revealing that hydrogen bonds in the complex molecule act as obstacles. The approach uses infrared light and operando spectroscopy to provide real-time snapshots of the sample, overcoming past limitations.
Scientists have created genetically modified bioluminescent petunias that emit an ethereal glow, making them up to 100 times brighter than previous plants. The new research builds on earlier discoveries and shows the genetic modifications also elevate luminescence in yeast and mammalian cells.
Researchers have discovered the atomic structure of an RNA replicase using cryogenic electron microscopy, shedding light on a primordial 'RNA world' that kick-started evolution. The study provides structural insight into an ancient RNA machine thought to reside at the origin of life.
Scientists engineered yeast that can harness energy from light, growing 2% faster in the light than in the dark. This discovery provides key evolutionary insights into how rhodopsins spread across lineages and has potential applications for biofuel production and studying cellular aging.
Researchers at Pompeu Fabra University have successfully engineered Cutibacterium acnes to secrete and produce NGAL protein, which reduces sebum production. This breakthrough could lead to novel treatments for acne and other skin diseases using living therapeutics.
Researchers at the Max-Planck-Institute have developed a synthetic biochemical cycle that directly converts CO2 into Acetyl-CoA using three modules implemented in E.coli. The THETA cycle has shown promising results with improved acetyl-CoA yield through optimization and in vivo feasibility testing.
Recent advancements in biotechnology have led to the development of artificial biological systems that can utilize CO2 as a feedstock, producing valuable chemicals and fuels. These systems, including autotrophic organisms, tandem enzymatic systems, and chemo-bio hybrid systems, offer promising solutions for sustainable energy production.
Researchers have discovered a new source of antimicrobial compounds in ice cores, which could help combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. The study employs bioprospecting and synthetic biology techniques to unearth unique compounds from these biological time capsules.
Advancing towards sustainable 3G technologies in CO2 utilization, researchers focus on enhancing C1 fixation efficiency and productivity of desired compounds. Chemo-bio hybrid systems leveraging electricity and light offer emerging strategies to overcome challenges.
A new probiotic-guided chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T platform uses engineered bacteria to infiltrate and produce synthetic antigen targets, enabling CAR-T cells to find and destroy tumor cells in situ. The approach expands the scope of CAR-T cell therapy to include solid tumors, which are poorly infiltrated by T cells.
Scientists at University of Cambridge create Highlighter tool that uses specific light conditions to activate defense mechanisms in plants, allowing them to 'talk' to humans about impending dangers such as disease outbreaks and heatwaves. The system utilizes optogenetics technology to control biomolecular processes at the cellular level.
Scientists developed a workflow that combines CRISPR gene editing with computational models to predict necessary gene edits, reducing product development cycles from years to months. The approach showed promise in engineering strains to convert lignin into target molecules, offering an eco-friendly alternative for biomanufacturing.