earticle

영어

Holin and lysin, bacteriophage derived proteins, are involved in lysis of bacteria. The cell lytic processes are collaboratively controlled by holin and lysin. During the cell lysis procedure, it is known that the concentration of holin in membrane is one of the most important parameter and its topological change, provide accessibility of lysin to the murein layer, can trigger the lysis. In this study, we attempted to generate a genetic circuit that led to autolysis of host cells by counting bacterial population. In this context, we incorporated a quorum sensing (QS) devices of bacteria into genetic circuit. Acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) is one of typical QS molecule in gram-negative bacteria and it is freely diffused across the membrane. At high concentration of AHL, LuxR-type transcription factor forms LuxR-AHL complexes that activate the target gene expression. This transcription logic can control the cell lysis when the expression of holin/lysine was triggered by AHL using the cognitive transcription factor bind to promoter in concentration dependent manner.