Engineering non-exponential proliferation in Escherichia coli using functionalized protein aggregates
Researchers engineered Escherichia coli to grow non-exponentially by programming intracellular protein aggregates that reconstitute a split enzyme producing cAMP, creating asymmetric segregation and a finite number of linear cell divisions; plasmid sequences and datasets are available and a European priority patent has been filed. The chassis is proposed as a way to impose autonomous, transient growth limits for safer deployment of engineered microbes in therapeutic or environmental contexts.
Why it mattersKU Leuven's chassis enabling linear growth via protein aggregates forces tighter biocontainment and dosing controls for therapeutic microbes.