Abstract
We have designed a bacterial system that is switched between different states by red light. The system consists of a synthetic sensor kinase that allows a lawn of bacteria to function as a biological film, such that the projection of a pattern of light on to the bacteria produces a high-definition (about 100 megapixels per square inch), two-dimensional chemical image. This spatial control of bacterial gene expression could be used to 'print' complex biological materials, for example, and to investigate signalling pathways through precise spatial and temporal control of their phosphorylation steps.
MeSH terms
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Agar
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Biology*
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Color
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Escherichia coli / growth & development
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Escherichia coli / physiology*
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Escherichia coli / radiation effects*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / radiation effects
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Genes, Reporter / genetics
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Genetic Engineering*
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Histidine Kinase
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Lac Operon / genetics
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Light*
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Photography / methods*
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Photoreceptors, Microbial / chemistry
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Photoreceptors, Microbial / genetics
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Photoreceptors, Microbial / metabolism
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Phycobilins
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Phycocyanin / biosynthesis
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Phycocyanin / metabolism
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Phytochrome / chemistry
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Phytochrome / genetics
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Phytochrome / metabolism*
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Protein Kinases / chemistry
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Protein Kinases / genetics
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Protein Kinases / metabolism
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
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Tetrapyrroles / biosynthesis
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Tetrapyrroles / metabolism
Substances
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Photoreceptors, Microbial
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Phycobilins
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Tetrapyrroles
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Phycocyanin
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Phytochrome
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phycocyanobilin
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Agar
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Protein Kinases
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Histidine Kinase