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07:59
An Optogenetic Method to Control and Analyze Gene Expression Patterns in Cell-to-cell Interactions
Published on: March 22, 2018
Coupling oscillations and switches in genetic networks
1Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Campus Plaine, CP 231, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium. dgonze@ulb.ac.be
Bio Systems
|September 9, 2009
Summary
Coupling synthetic genetic Toggle switch and Repressilator networks creates novel biological dynamics. This research explores how combining bistability and oscillation modules generates complex behaviors for synthetic biology applications.
Area of Science:
- Systems Biology
- Synthetic Biology
- Genetic Engineering
Background:
- Biological networks frequently exhibit bistability (switches) and oscillations (limit cycles).
- Synthetic genetic circuits for bistability and oscillations have been successfully created.
- Interconnected regulatory circuits in natural systems display complex dynamics beyond simple modules.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamics arising from coupling the genetic Toggle switch (bistability) and Repressilator (oscillation) systems.
- To explore two distinct coupling strategies: oscillator controlling switch, and switch controlling oscillator.
- To identify conditions for novel dynamical behaviors and their potential applications in synthetic biology.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulations were employed to model and analyze the coupled genetic network dynamics.
- Two coupling architectures were systematically studied: oscillator-on-switch and switch-on-oscillator.
- Analysis focused on identifying conditions for periodic switching, birhythmicity, and state transitions.
Main Results:
- Coupling the Toggle switch and Repressilator modules yields rich dynamical behaviors not seen in isolated systems.
- Oscillator control of the switch enables periodic state switching between bistable states.
- Switch control of the oscillator can generate transitions from steady states to sustained oscillations and vice versa.
Conclusions:
- Coupling simple genetic network modules can generate complex and predictable dynamical properties.
- The study provides insights into designing coupled genetic circuits for specific synthetic biology functions.
- Observed dynamics differ from those in systems with interlocked positive and negative feedback loops.
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