Application of FaRLiP
Regulation of FaRLiP Gene Cluster
What applications could FaRLiP in cyanobacteria have? Is it possible to transfer it to enable other species to utilize far-red light? We are dedicated to applying the genes and mechanisms of FaRLiP in synthetic biology research. This includes, but is not limited to, identifying promoters that can be regulated by far-red light and establishing systems that can be controlled by far-red light in cyanobacteria, as well as potentially in other bacteria or organisms.
Relative Publications:
Tabor JJ, Levskaya A, & Voigt CA. (2011) Multichromatic control of gene expression in Escherichia coli. J. Mol. Biol. 405(2), 315–324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2010.10.038
Hirose Y, Shimada T, Narikawa R, Katayama M, & Ikeuchi M. (2008) Cyanobacteriochrome CcaS is the green light receptor that induces the expression of phycobilisome linker protein. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 105(28), 9528–9533. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0801826105
Screening Far-red light Promoters
We analyze the transcriptome of FaRLiP cyanobacterial strains under far-red light, identifying genes induced by far-red light. Through our established fluorescent protein reporter system, we test potential upstream promoter sequences of these genes. Promoters such as PchlFJSC1 are significantly induced by far-red light.
Selected Publication:
Liu T-S*, Wu K-F*, Jiang H-W, Chen K-W, Nien T-S, Bryant DA, Ho M-Y. (2023) Identification of a far-red light-inducible promoter that exhibits light intensity dependency and reversibility in a cyanobacterium. ACS Synth. Biol. 12(4), 1320–1330. (*co-first author) https://doi.org/10.1021/acssynbio.3c00066
Kobayashi S, Atsumi S, Ikebukuro K, Sode K, & Asano R. (2022) Light-induced production of isobutanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol by metabolically engineered cyanobacteria. Microb. Cell Factories. 21(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-021-01732-x
Establish FRL Regulation Systems
Through the FRL promoter and the regulators rfpABC, which control the expression of the FaRLiP gene cluster, we can express eYPF under far-red light and deactivate the expression system in the absence of light. Currently, we are working on applying this system to other cyanobacteria or organisms that cannot utilize far-red light for photosynthesis.
Relative Publication:
Sarsekeyeva F, Zayadan Bk, Usserbaeva A, Bedbenov VS, Sinetova MA, & Los DA. (2015) Cyanofuels: biofuels from cyanobacteria. Reality and perspectives. Photosynth. Res. 125(1-2), 329–340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-015-0103-3
Colin MB, Léda NG, Deborah LS, Mark EH, Stephen CM, Michael JW, Jefferson WT, Ian A, Joe G, Charles HG. (2015) Algal biofuel production for fuels and feed in a 100-ha facility: A comprehensive techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment. Algal Res. 10, 266-279. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211926415001125
Explore the possibilities of FaRLiP applications
Cyanobacteria are widely used in applications such as bioenergy and compound synthesis. Issues like insufficient light can arise as cell density increases in bioreactors. By enabling cells to perform photosynthesis using far-red light, it can effectively address the lighting problems in bioreactors and extend the operation field of cyanobacteria bioreactor.