Tufts researchers expand potential for bacterial spores as catalysts
In Massachusetts, a remarkable quality of bioengineering is the fact that scientists can take biological processes honed by millions of years of evolution and use them to efficiently create drugs, chemicals, and other products to improve our lives. Now Tufts researchers have found new ways to expand the potential for using bacterial spores as catalysts for chemical reactions, biofuel production, or breaking down pollutants.
When some species of bacteria find themselves in an environmentally stressful situation like extreme heat, cold, aridity, loss of nutrients, or even exposure to disinfectants, they can hunker down and form spores—hardened protein-coated spheres protecting a DNA-filled core. The spores remain stable and dormant for years—even centuries—waiting patiently until the right conditions allow them to resurrect into active bacteria once again.
This extraordinary stability has made bacterial spores great candidates for bioengineering. Researchers are designing spores to express drugs, industrial enzymes, and catalysts, and be used as biological sensors, as useful molecules are fused to the spore’s outer coat of proteins. The products fused to the proteins can be stored and distributed without the need for refrigeration, or can be used in applications under extreme conditions, such as high heat or exposure to harsh chemicals.
While promising, the technology has encountered hurdles, including the fact that only 12 of the nearly 50 proteins that coat spores have been explored as potential objects to fuse with new substances.
Category: Research
