A Novel Biosensor for Ferrous Iron Developed via CoBiSe: A Computational Method for Rapid Biosensor Design.

ABSTRACT: Genetically encoded biosensors enable the monitoring of metabolite dynamics in living organisms. We present CoBiSe, a computational biosensor design approach using Constraint Network Analysis to identify optimal insertion sites for reporter modules in molecular recognition elements (MREs). Applied to the iron-binding protein DtxR from Corynebacterium glutamicum, CoBiSe identified a flexible connective loop (residues 138-150) for inserting the reporter module, resulting in IronSenseR, a novel ratiometric biosensor for ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). IronSenseR demonstrates high specificity for Fe²⁺ with dissociation constants of 1.78 ± 0.03 (FeSO₄) and 2.90 ± 0.12 μM (FeCl₂), while showing no binding to Fe³⁺ and other d

SUBMITTER: Papadopoulos A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12836349 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature