E. coli can cause severe illness, but is also often used in drug development
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Scientists have achieved a groundbreaking feat by redesigning the genome of an Escherichia coli bacterium to use only 57 of the 64 genetic codes, which were synthesized from scratch and inserted into a living bacterium. This monumental effort, led by Wesley Robertson at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK, opens up new possibilities in biotechnology.
The 57-codon E. coli, known as Syn57, holds immense potential for commercial applications. By further modifying Syn57, it could be made completely resistant to viral infections, making it ideal for large-scale production of proteins used in medicines, food, or cosmetics. Additionally, Syn57 could be engineered to produce proteins with up to 27 different amino acids, offering the prospect of creating novel proteins with unique functionalities.
Proteins, essential molecules in living organisms, are composed of chains of amino acids coded by specific sequences in genes. By altering the genetic code of an organism, researchers can expand the repertoire of amino acids that can be incorporated into proteins, paving the way for the creation of unconventional proteins.
Typically, living organisms on Earth utilize only 20 amino acids out of the 64 possible codons. By repurposing redundant codons to encode non-natural amino acids or other chemicals, scientists can enhance the synthetic capabilities of organisms. Although freeing up all 43 extra codons is currently unattainable due to potential detrimental effects, researchers are making significant strides in this direction.
In a previous study, 314 gene edits were made to E. coli to liberate a single codon. However, the laborious nature of making numerous genetic modifications prompted Robertson’s team to synthesize DNA from scratch. Their earlier creation, Syn61, featured 18,000 alterations to E. coli’s genome, freeing up three codons and laying the groundwork for potential industrial applications.
Building upon this success, the researchers have now developed Syn57 by making 101,000 changes to unlock seven codons. This achievement, though arduous, represents a major breakthrough in genetic engineering. While Syn57 currently exhibits slower growth rates than wild-type E. coli, efforts are underway to enhance its performance for practical use.
Looking ahead, the focus will shift towards exploring the diverse applications of Syn57 rather than further compressing the genetic code. This innovative approach not only expands the capabilities of synthetic biology but also underscores the endless possibilities of genome engineering.
With continuous advancements in genetic manipulation, the realm of synthetic biology is poised for remarkable growth, offering unprecedented opportunities for creating novel organisms with tailored functionalities.
This pioneering work builds upon the foundation laid by the first synthetic bacterium created in 2010, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing quest to engineer life forms with custom-designed genomes.
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