Remote control of bacterial gene expression: Optogenetics, electrogenetics, sonogenetics and magnetogenetics

Bacterial gene expression regulation is pivotal for both mechanistic studies and practical applications. Traditional methods, relying on chemical inducers to control specific promoters, often lack spatiotemporal precision, limiting their effectiveness in complex environments such as the gut. In this review, we explore innovative gene expression regulation systems in bacteria: optogenetics, electrogenetics, sonogenetics, and magnetogenetics. Optogenetic systems utilize light-sensitive proteins to respond to light signals, electrogenetic systems employ redox-sensitive proteins to react to electronic signals, while sonogenetic and magnetogenetic systems leverage the thermal effects of focused ultrasound and alternating magnetic fields to modulate thermosensitive transcriptional regulators. These novel approaches overcome the limitations of traditional induction methods, offering unparalleled precision in gene expression control. They hold significant promise for applications in drug delivery, gene editing, metabolic engineering, bio-based material synthesis and biological data storage, paving the way for transformative advancements in synthetic biology and biotechnology.