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A synthetic multi-cellular network of coupled self-sustained oscillators
Miguel Fernández-Niño1, Daniel Giraldo2, Judith Lucia Gomez-Porras3
1Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
Plos One
|June 30, 2017
Summary
Scientists engineered a synthetic genetic network using modular components. This artificial biological network demonstrates self-regulated synchronization through cell clustering over time.
Area of Science:
- Synthetic biology
- Systems biology
- Genetic engineering
Background:
- Engineering artificial networks from modular components is a key challenge in synthetic biology.
- Previous work successfully constructed individual synthetic biological units like switches and oscillators.
- Integrating these parts into self-regulated networks is nearing a breakthrough.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and analyze a modular, higher-order synthetic genetic network.
- To investigate the self-regulated synchronization of coupled synthetic biological units.
- To provide a framework for studying network behavior in artificial multicellular systems.
Main Methods:
- Assembling a network from two independent repressilators coupled via a modified quorum-sensing circuit.
- Utilizing mathematical modeling to analyze network dynamics.
- Employing experimental approaches to monitor cell behavior and synchronization.
Main Results:
- Observed clustering of cells into groups of varying sizes.
- Demonstrated synchronous oscillations within cell clusters.
- Mathematical modeling predicted complete population synchronization after approximately 30 days.
Conclusions:
- Self-regulated synchronization in biological systems can involve an intermediate clustering phase.
- The developed artificial multicellular network serves as a platform for exploring network-generated behaviors.
- This study advances the integration of synthetic biological parts into functional networks.
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