Utilizing a divalent metal ion transporter to control biogenic nanoparticle synthesis.

Biogenic synthesis of inorganic nanomaterials has been demonstrated for both wild and engineered bacterial strains. In many systems the nucleation and growth of nanomaterials is poorly controlled and requires concentrations of heavy metals toxic to living cells. Here, we utilized the tools of synthetic biology to engineer a strain of Escherichia coli capable of synthesizing cadmium sulfide nanoparticles from low concentrations of reactants with control over the location of synthesis. Informed by simulations of bacterially-assisted nanoparticle synthesis, we created a strain of E. coli expressing a broad-spectrum divalent metal transporter, ZupT, and a synthetic CdS nucleating peptide. Expression of ZupT in the outer membrane and placement of the nucleating peptide in the periplasm focused synthesis within the periplasmic space and enabled sufficient nucleation and growth of nanoparticles at sub-toxic levels of the reactants. This strain synthesized internal CdS quantum dot nanoparticles with spherical morphology and an average diameter of approximately 3.3 nm.

One-sentence summary: Expression of a metal ion transporter regulates synthesis of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles in bacteria.