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Nanosensors to Detect Protease Activity In Vivo for Noninvasive Diagnostics
Published on: July 16, 2018
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Mathematical Models of Protease-Based Enzymatic Biosensors
Deepak K Agrawal1,2, Elliott M Dolan3, Nancy E Hernandez3
1Department of Bioengineering , Northeastern University , Boston , Massachusetts 02120 , United States.
ACS Synthetic Biology
|February 5, 2020
Summary
Synthetic biology aims for fast biosensors. This study models protease-based switches for rapid Boolean logic, enabling complex molecular circuits with quick responses.
Area of Science:
- Synthetic biology
- Molecular biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Current genetic circuits are slow due to multi-step processes (transcription, translation).
- This limits the speed and complexity of synthetic biological systems.
- Fast molecular frameworks using post-translational steps are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop mathematical models for fast biosensors with Boolean logic functionality.
- To investigate protease-based and light-induced switches for rapid molecular computation.
- To provide guidelines for selecting and optimizing molecular switches.
Main Methods:
- Mathematical modeling of biosensor circuits.
- Employing protease-based chemical and light-induced switches.
- In vitro implementation and sensitivity analysis of molecular switches.
Main Results:
- Modeled fast biosensors capable of Boolean logic (OR, XOR).
- Demonstrated a rapamycin-induced switch in vitro matching model predictions.
- Identified key parameters affecting circuit performance through sensitivity analysis.
Conclusions:
- Fast protease-based biosensors can implement complex molecular circuits.
- Reaction conditions can tune the performance of these biosensors.
- The framework aids in evaluating and optimizing molecular logic circuits.
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