Harnessing Synthetic Circuits to Illuminate Microbial Electron Transfer: A Perspective on Engineered Metabolism

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Title: Harnessing Synthetic Circuits to Illuminate Microbial Electron Transfer: A Perspective on Engineered Metabolism
Language: English
Authors: Wilgince Apollon (ORCID 0000-0002-3790-3807), Soumya Ghosh (ORCID 0000-0002-4945-3516), Sathish-Kumar Kamaraj (ORCID 0000-0001-5145-6962)
Source: Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education. 2026 27(1).
Availability: American Society for Microbiology. 1752 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-737-3600; e-mail: journals@asmusa.org; Web site: https://journals.asm.org/journal/jmbe
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 6
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Descriptive
Descriptors: Electronic Equipment, Microbiology, Biology, Scientific Research, Genetics, Engineering, Metabolism
ISSN: 1935-7877
1935-7885
Abstract: Synthetic biology is transforming how we understand and teach microbial energy metabolism. In a recent study (F. Li, B. Zhang, X. Long, H. Yu, et al., Nat Commun 16:2882, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57497-z), the authors demonstrated a synthetic gene circuit that enables "Shewanella oneidensis" to produce and release phenazine-1-carboxylic acid, a redox-active metabolite that enhances extracellular electron transfer and electricity generation. This perspective highlights the significance of their work, focusing on how controlling the production of redox mediators provides new insights into microbial electron flow and bioelectronic design. Beyond its technological implications, this system also serves as a valuable educational case study for teaching principles of redox balance, gene regulation, and metabolic engineering. Viewing this advancement in the context of biology education underscores the potential of synthetic circuits to deepen our understanding of microbial metabolism and to promote interdisciplinary learning in microbiology, biotechnology, and engineering.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504857
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Harnessing Synthetic Circuits to Illuminate Microbial Electron Transfer: A Perspective on Engineered Metabolism
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wilgince+Apollon%22">Wilgince Apollon</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3790-3807">0000-0002-3790-3807</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Soumya+Ghosh%22">Soumya Ghosh</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4945-3516">0000-0002-4945-3516</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sathish-Kumar+Kamaraj%22">Sathish-Kumar Kamaraj</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5145-6962">0000-0001-5145-6962</externalLink>)
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  Data: American Society for Microbiology. 1752 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-737-3600; e-mail: journals@asmusa.org; Web site: https://journals.asm.org/journal/jmbe
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  Data: Synthetic biology is transforming how we understand and teach microbial energy metabolism. In a recent study (F. Li, B. Zhang, X. Long, H. Yu, et al., Nat Commun 16:2882, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57497-z), the authors demonstrated a synthetic gene circuit that enables "Shewanella oneidensis" to produce and release phenazine-1-carboxylic acid, a redox-active metabolite that enhances extracellular electron transfer and electricity generation. This perspective highlights the significance of their work, focusing on how controlling the production of redox mediators provides new insights into microbial electron flow and bioelectronic design. Beyond its technological implications, this system also serves as a valuable educational case study for teaching principles of redox balance, gene regulation, and metabolic engineering. Viewing this advancement in the context of biology education underscores the potential of synthetic circuits to deepen our understanding of microbial metabolism and to promote interdisciplinary learning in microbiology, biotechnology, and engineering.
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 6
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Electronic Equipment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Microbiology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scientific Research
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      – SubjectFull: Genetics
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      – SubjectFull: Engineering
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      – SubjectFull: Metabolism
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Harnessing Synthetic Circuits to Illuminate Microbial Electron Transfer: A Perspective on Engineered Metabolism
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            NameFull: Wilgince Apollon
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            NameFull: Soumya Ghosh
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            NameFull: Sathish-Kumar Kamaraj
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              M: 04
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              Y: 2026
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