Regulation of species metabolism in synthetic community systems by environmental pH oscillations

Shubin Li; Yingming Zhao; Shuqi Wu; Xiangxiang Zhang; Boyu Yang; Liangfei Tian; Xiaojun Han

doi:10.1038/s41467-023-43398-6

Nature Communications (Nov 2023)

Regulation of species metabolism in synthetic community systems by environmental pH oscillations

Shubin Li,
Yingming Zhao,
Shuqi Wu,
Xiangxiang Zhang,
Boyu Yang,
Liangfei Tian,
Xiaojun Han

Affiliations

Shubin Li: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology
Yingming Zhao: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology
Shuqi Wu: Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University
Xiangxiang Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology
Boyu Yang: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology
Liangfei Tian: Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University
Xiaojun Han: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43398-6
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract Constructing a synthetic community system helps scientist understand the complex interactions among species in a community and its environment. Herein, a two-species community is constructed with species A (artificial cells encapsulating pH-responsive molecules and sucrose) and species B (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), which causes the environment to exhibit pH oscillation behaviour due to the generation and dissipation of CO2. In addition, a three-species community is constructed with species A′ (artificial cells containing sucrose and G6P), species B, and species C (artificial cells containing NAD+ and G6PDH). The solution pH oscillation regulates the periodical release of G6P from species A′; G6P then enters species C to promote the metabolic reaction that converts NAD+ to NADH. The location of species A′ and B determines the metabolism behaviour in species C in the spatially coded three-species communities with CA′B, CBA′, and A′CB patterns. The proposed synthetic community system provides a foundation to construct a more complicated microecosystem.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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