Blue-Purple evaluation: Chromoproteins facilitate the identification of BioBrick compatibility

Abstract

Synthetic BioBricks introduce novel capabilities to manipulate genetic information, direct transcription-translation processes, and program cellular behaviors in living organisms. To maintain the stability and functionality of synthetic BioBricks, assembled DNA fragments should be mutually compatible without inducing negative effects such as metabolic burden or cellular toxicity in host cells. However, a simple, rapid, and reliable method to evaluate BioBrick compatibility remains to be developed. In this study, we report BP (Blue/Purple, Ban/Pick) evaluation, a method utilizing chromoproteins to facilitate the identification of BioBrick compatibility in one-pot reactions. By visualizing and quantifying the ratio of blue to purple Escherichia coli (E. coli) colonies on LB-agar plates, we can easily validate the compatibility of desired BioBrick constructions. To demonstrate our design, we characterized BioBrick assemblies with antitoxin-toxin pair ccdA-ccdB, lysis protein E, or heterologous protein sfGFP. Among these, we successfully identified several compatible assemblies. We anticipate that BP evaluation will enhance biotechnological assessments of BioBrick compatibility in vivo and expand the application of chromoproteins in synthetic biology.

Keywords: BioBrick compatibility; DNA assembly; biotechnology; chromoprotein; molecular cloning; synthetic biology.