Outside Back Cover: Prophage Activation Triggers Extracellular Synthesis of DNA in Bacterial Biofilms via Rolling Circle Replication

Revealing a paradigm shift in molecular biology and microbial ecology, this study demonstrates that bacterial biofilms actively synthesize DNA in the extracellular space. Activated prophages from Shewanella oneidensis and Bacillus subtilis drive extracellular rolling circle replication of G-quadruplex DNA. Triggered by cell lysis, this novel programmable biosynthetic route generates spherical or wire-like eDNA superstructures with advanced bioelectronic and catalytic properties. More in Research Article e3695434, Gabriel Antonio S. Minero and co-workers. Image or parts thereof created with BioRender.