Genetic Circuit Design in Rhizobacteria

Abstract

Genetically engineered plants hold enormous promise for tackling global food security and agricultural sustainability challenges. However, construction of plant-based genetic circuitry is constrained by a lack of well-characterized genetic parts and circuit design rules. In contrast, advances in bacterial synthetic biology have yielded a wealth of sensors, actuators, and other tools that can be used to build bacterial circuitry. As root-colonizing bacteria (rhizobacteria) exert substantial influence over plant health and growth, genetic circuit design in these microorganisms can be used to indirectly engineer plants and accelerate the design-build-test-learn cycle. Here, we outline genetic parts and best practices for designing rhizobacterial circuits, with an emphasis on sensors, actuators, and chassis species that can be used to monitor/control rhizosphere and plant processes.

Temporal and spatial changes in rhizosphere bacterial diversity of mountain Rhododendron mucronulatum

“…Many soil microorganisms are attached to the narrow space of the rhizosphere, and they are frequently active in the rhizosphere area, transforming organic substrates, releasing minerals, and changing soil properties, affecting plant growth ( Zhao et al, 2015 ). Rhizosphere bacteria can have a significant influence on plant health, nutrient uptake, and soil properties ( Dundas and Dinneny, 2022 ). Enzymes in the soil can directly affect soil physicochemical properties and indirectly influence rhizosphere bacterial communities by decomposing OM.…”