Modeling population dynamics in a microbial consortium under control of a synthetic pheromone-mediated communication system

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Abstract

Microbial consortia can be used to catalyze complex biotransformations. Tools to control the behavior of these consortia in a technical environment are currently lacking. In the present study, a synthetic biology approach was used to build a model consortium of two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains where growth and expression of the fluorescent marker protein EGFP by the receiver strain is controlled by the concentration of alpha-factor pheromone, which is produced by the emitter strain. We have developed a quantitative experimental and theoretical framework to describe population dynamics in the model consortium. We measured biomass growth and metabolite production in controlled bioreactor experiments, and used flow cytometry to monitor changes of the subpopulations and protein expression under different cultivation conditions. This dataset was used to parameterize a segregated mathematical model, which took into account fundamental growth processes, pheromone-induced growth arrest and EGFP production, as well as pheromone desensitization after extended exposure. The model was able to predict the growth dynamics of single-strain cultures and the consortium quantitatively and provides a basis for using this approach in actual biotransformations.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)400-411
Seitenumfang12
FachzeitschriftEngineering in Life Sciences
Jahrgang19
Ausgabenummer6
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Juni 2019
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 85056381545

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • cell-cell communication system, co-culture, mathematical model, pheromone, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, CELL COMMUNICATION, GENE-EXPRESSION