Difference between revisions of "Part:BBa K5291045:Design"

Latest revision as of 08:16, 1 October 2024

PaPilA1-61M3

Design Notes

PaPilA1-61M3 is a genetically engineered variant of the PilA protein derived from Seudomonas aeruginosa, which has been modified to enhance its conductivity. PilA is a structural protein that forms type IV pili (T4P), which are long protein fibers involved in bacterial surface attachment, twitching motility, and biofilm formation. The PaPilA1–61M3 variant specifically contains a truncated version of the PilA protein, consisting of only the first 61 amino acids from the N-terminus, and has undergone site-directed mutagenesis to introduce additional aromatic amino acids—such as tyrosine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan—at specific positions (E32Y, L51F, G57Y). These modifications significantly increase the conductivity of the resulting pili, making them comparable to the conductive pili of Geobacter sulfurreducens, which are known as "microbial nanowires." The enhanced conductivity of PaPilA1–61M3 pili is attributed to the presence of these aromatic amino acids, which facilitate electron transfer along the pili. This feature makes PaPilA1–61M3 an attractive candidate for biotechnological applications, particularly in the field of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), where conductive pili can improve the efficiency of extracellular electron transfer, leading to increased bioelectricity output. Researchers can utilize PaPilA1–61M3 by cloning the modified PilA gene into suitable expression vectors and introducing it into P. aeruginosa or other bacterial hosts capable of producing T4P. The engineered bacteria can then be applied in various bioelectrochemical systems, contributing to the advancement of sustainable and eco-friendly technologies.

Source

Seudomonas aeruginosa

References

Liu, X. et al. Biological synthesis of high-conductive pili in aerobic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 103, 1535-1544 (2019)