Radical Redesign of an Allosteric Biosensor to Respond to New Ligands
Abstract
Biosensors to detect small molecule ligands (metabolites) is a highly valuable tool with applications in synthetic biology, medical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, bioremediation, and bioenergy. Nature has evolved proteins as small molecule biosensors with exquisite specificity and sensitivity. Our inability to design a biosensor for a desired molecule is a major hurdle to further expanding the use of biosensors. We currently rely almost exclusively on natural biosensors. Although thousands of sequences are marked as putative biosensors, the ligand partner for most is unknown. We are limited to 10-15 well-characterized natural biosensors; this leaves large chemical classes with no biosensors. For instance, anthropogenic chemicals (synthetic, human-made chemicals) such as explosives and pesticides are not detectable by natural biosensors, but will require new biosensors specifically designed for these chemicals. Biosensors also do not exist for microbial metabolites that are biomarkers of pathogenicity, environmental pollutants, human wellness indicators like hormones, and complex natural products of medicinal and industrial value.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1229307
Entities
People
- Vatsan Raman
Organizations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison