Endosymbiotic control and enhancement of leafhopper brochosomes
Abstract
Development of new functional synthetic biomaterials with tunable properties, higher-order assemblies, and novel sensors is essential for expanding their utility in material science applications relevant to the Department of Defense (DoD). Unfortunately, the eukaryotic organisms capable of producing important classes of these materials (e.g., optical materials) have resisted efforts to domesticate them. To address this grand challenge, we propose to genetically engineer bacterial endosymbionts that live within the bodies of animals or plants into onboard control modules and molecular factories that enhance the production and properties of the biomaterials. Specifically, we will develop and demonstrate these transformational capabilities by engineering endosymbionts that enhance brochosomes, natural nanostructures with novel surface and optical properties that are produced by leafhopper insects (family Cicadellidae). To achieve the project vision, the following technical approaches will be pursued: (i) evaluating the natural diversity and properties of brochosomes (Tasks 1-2), (ii) characterizing a molecular parts list needed for synthesizing brochosomes (Task 3), (iii) creating synthetic brochosomes, including brochosomes with new structures and assembly properties enabled by novel genetically encoded chemistry (Tasks 4-5), and (iv) engineering endosymbionts to control the production and functionality of natural and synthetic brochosomes (Tasks 6-7). This work will strengthen our understanding of the basic biology of brochosomes to enable the synthesis and re-design of novel functional biomaterials. Moreover, our work charts a new path towards a paradigm for symbiont-enabled biomaterial synthesis. We expect that our approach and, in many cases, the very bacteria and genetic constructs we create in this project, will make it possible to control diverse materials produced by insects and other arthropods that serve as fasteners, adhesives, sensors, camouflage, lenses, habitats, and more. Our approach may even harness one of the most salient features of biologyÑthe ability to evolveÑin search of new materials. By combining unique synthetic and materials expertise with excellence in biomolecular engineering and evolutionary biology, we will apply an innovative and exciting new approach to address a longstanding, unsolved challenge in the ability to engineer hybrid systems whereby a prokaryotic endosymbiont controls a eukaryotic host cell to produce materials of interest. If successful, our platform will offer a broad range of disruptive technologies having significant impact on DoD capabilities. For example, the ability to manufacture brochosomes and other biomaterials will allow for the creation of new types of advanced personal gear and equipment that incorporate lightweight materials, control electromagnetic signatures, and resist fouling. Given the ubiquity of microbiomes, this cellular control approach may be extended to essentially any multicellular eukaryote in the future. These technologies will also more broadly enable nanofabrication and on-demand biomanufacturing processes that can operate in resource-limited forward deployments. Taken together, our work promises to expand the definition of biomanufacturing, becoming a major driver of global innovation and sustainable economic growth.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 09, 2020
- Source ID
- W911NF2010195
Entities
People
- Jeffrey E Barrick
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Texas at Austin