Recent Synthetic Biology Approaches for Temperature- and Light-Controlled Gene Expression in Bacterial Hosts

The expression of genes of interest (GOI) can be initiated by providing external stimuli such as temperature shifts and light irradiation. The application of thermal or light stimuli triggers structural changes in stimuli-sensitive biomolecules within the cell, thereby inducing or repressing gene expression. Over the past two decades, several groups have reported genetic circuits that use natural or engineered stimuli-sensitive modules to manipulate gene expression. Here, we summarize versatile strategies of thermosensors and light-driven systems for the conditional expression of GOI in bacterial hosts.

Automated summary

The expression of genes of interest can be controlled by providing external stimuli such as temperature shifts and light irradiation, which trigger structural changes in stimuli-sensitive biomolecules within the cell. Over the past two decades, various groups have reported genetic circuits that manipulate gene expression using natural or engineered stimuli-sensitive modules.