Complex signal processing in synthetic gene circuits using cooperative regulatory assemblies

Abstract

Synthetic biologists would like to be able to make gene regulatory circuits that mimic key properties of eukaryotic gene regulation. Taking a cue from multimeric transcription factor complexes, Bashor et al. developed synthetic transcriptional circuits that produce nonlinear behavior from cooperativity (see the Perspective by Ng and El-Samad). Their system uses clamp proteins with multiple protein-interaction domains. Circuit behavior can be tuned by altering the number or affinities of the interactions according to a mathematical model. The authors created synthetic circuits with desired functions common in biology, for example, switch-like behavior or Boolean decision functions.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
May 10, 2019
Source ID
10.1126/science.aau8287

Entities

People

  • Ahmad S Khalil
  • Ali Beyzavi
  • Caleb J Bashor
  • James J. Collins
  • Jané Kondev
  • Nikit Patel
  • Sandeep Choubey

Organizations

  • Boston University
  • Brandeis University
  • Broad Institute
  • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
  • Harvard University
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Science Foundation
  • Rice University

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

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