PreprintCited by 18Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniquesGene Regulatory Network AnalysisRNA and protein synthesis mechanisms

Engineered retrons generate genome-independent protein-binding DNA for cellular control

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Lee, Geonhu, Kim, Jongmin·2023·Nature Chemistry

Preprint — published as 10.1038/s41557-025-02049-7 · Paper page

Abstract

DNA-protein interactions are core components of myriad natural and synthetic gene networks. Despite the potential new design space, DNA-protein interactions remain underexploited in vivo due to challenges in controlling specific DNA segments, including protein-binding sequences, independently of the genome. Here we engineer retrons, prokaryotic retroelements, to intracellularly generate genome-independent programmable small DNA for sequence-specific protein-binding. Using reprogrammed retron-derived DNA for allosteric transcription factor, we demonstrated dynamic regulation of synthetic gene networks and construction of automated feedback circuits for signal amplification, adaptation, and memory. Furthermore, we developed a new class of stimuli-responsive molecular “bait and prey” that enable modular, rapid, and post-translational control of protein subcellular localization. This work substantially expands possible application area of DNA-protein interactions, laying the foundation for technical advances in synthetic biology. One-Sentence Summary: We demonstrate new ways to control, design, and exploit DNA-protein interactions in living cells using engineered retron-generated small DNA.

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Authors
Lee, G., & Kim, J.
Affiliations
Pohang University of Science and Technology (KR)
Corresponding author
  • Lee, Geonhu
  • Kim, Jongmin
Venue
Nature Chemistry
Publisher
openRxiv
Published
2023-09-28
Volume
18
Issue
6
Pages
1042-1052
ISSN
1755-4330 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W7124464577
Cited by
15
References
75
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 8
FWCI
10.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc-nd
Locations
  • Nature Chemistry (publishedVersion)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Research Foundation (BK21 FOUR)
  • Ministry of Environment (NIBR202333202)
  • Korea Health Industry Development Institute (RS‐2023‐00304637)
  • National Research Foundation of Korea (BK 21 four, 2021R1A6C101A390, 2022R1F1A1066642)
  • Ministry of Education, India
  • Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea
  • National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR202333202)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
Keywords
retron, protein-DNA interactions, synthetic gene regulation, feedback circuits, post-translational regulation, allosteric transcription factors, synthetic biology
MeSH terms
DNA, DNA-Binding Proteins, Escherichia coli, Protein Binding

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