Abstract: Biosensors for small molecules can be used in applications that range from metabolic engineering to orthogonal control of transcription. Biosensors are produced based on a ligand-binding domain (LBD) using a method that, in principle, can be applied for any target molecule. The LBD is fused to either a fluorescent protein or a transcriptional activator and is destabilized by mutation such that the fusion accumulates only in cells containing the target ligand. The power of this method is illustrated by developing biosensors for digoxin and progesterone. Addition of ligand to cells expressing a biosensor activates transcription in yeast, mammalian cells and plants, with a dynamic range of up to about 100-fold or more. The biosensors are used to improve the biotransformation of pregnenolone to progesterone in yeast and to regulate CRISPR activity in mammalian cells. This work provides a general methodology to develop biosensors for a broad range of molecules.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a biosensor having a ligand binding domain (LBD) or its variant, wherein the stability of the LBD or its variant is conditioned on the presence of specific small molecule ligands, and wherein the LBD or its variant is fused to a reporter protein. The disclosure also provides a method of screening for small molecules that modulate protein stability.

Abstract: Biosensors for small molecules can be used in applications that range from metabolic engineering to orthogonal control of transcription. Biosensors are produced based on a ligand-binding domain (LBD) using a method that, in principle, can be applied for any target molecule. The LBD is fused to either a fluorescent protein or a transcriptional activator and is destabilized by mutation such that the fusion accumulates only in cells containing the target ligand. The power of this method is illustrated by developing biosensors for digoxin and progesterone. Addition of ligand to cells expressing a biosensor activates transcription in yeast, mammalian cells and plants, with a dynamic range of up to about 100-fold or more. The biosensors are used to improve the biotrans-formation of pregnenolone to progesterone in yeast and to regulate CRISPR activity in mammalian cells. This work provides a general methodology to develop biosensors for a broad range of molecules.

Abstract: Disclosed is a biosensor engineered to conditionally respond to the presence of specific small molecules, the biosensors including conditionally stable ligand-binding domains (LBDs) which respond to the presence of specific small molecules, wherein readout of binding is provided by reporter genes or transcription factors (TFs) fused to the LBDs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a biosensor engineered to conditionally respond to the presence of specific small molecules, the biosensors including conditionally stable ligand-binding domains (LBDs) which respond to the presence of specific small molecules, wherein readout of binding is provided by reporter genes or transcription factors (TFs) fused to the LBDs.

Abstract: An electrical connector that includes a housing that has an interface side and a printed circuit board engagement side, and a port at said interface side. The port is adapted to receive a mating connector. The port includes a signal contact connected to an internal circuit board. The signal contact is configured to mate with a corresponding contact of the mating connector. The internal circuit board has at least one terminal with a tail end extending though the circuit board engagement side of said housing. A port light indicator is adjacent the port and has a light element facing outwardly and a terminal end. A spring element is received in the housing and has a contact end and an opposite press-fit end. The contact end is biased against the indicator terminal end and the press-fit end extends through the circuit board engagement side of the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a biosensor engineered to conditionally respond to the presence of specific small molecules, the biosensors including conditionally stable ligand-binding domains (LBDs) which respond to the presence of specific small molecules, wherein readout of binding is provided by reporter genes or transcription factors (TFs) fused to the LBDs.