A Coculture Based Tyrosine-Tyrosinase Electrochemical Gene Circuit for Connecting Cellular Communication with Electronic Networks

There is a growing interest in mediating information transfer between biology and electronics. By the addition of redox mediators to various samples and cells, one can both electronically obtain a redox portrait of a biological system and, conversely, program gene expression. Here, we have created a cell-based synthetic biology-electrochemical axis in which engineered cells process molecular cues, producing an output that can be directly recorded via electronics-but without the need for added redox mediators. The process is robust; two key components must act together to provide a valid signal. The system builds on the tyrosinase-mediated conversion of tyrosine to L-DOPA and L-DOPAquinone, which are both redox active. Catalytic transducer cells provide for signal-mediated surface expression of tyrosinase. Additionally, reagent transducer cells synthesize and export tyrosine, a substrate for tyrosinase. In cocultures, this system enables real-time electrochemical transduction of cell activating molecular cues. To demonstrate, we eavesdrop on quorum sensing signaling molecules that are secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone and pyocyanin.