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Genetically encoded protein oscillators for FM streaming of single-cell data
Rohith Rajasekaran1,2, Thomas M Galateo1, Zhejing Xu1,2
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|March 10, 2025
Summary
Researchers created genetically encoded protein oscillators (GEOs) to mimic frequency modulation (FM) data streaming from cellphones. This breakthrough enables real-time, noise-resistant biochemical data transmission for single-cell analysis.
Area of Science:
- Synthetic Biology
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Frequency modulation (FM) is crucial for reliable data transmission in radios and cellphones.
- Genetically encoded protein oscillators (GEOs) offer potential as biological signaling components.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a biochemical analogue of FM for real-time single-cell data streaming.
- To develop a platform for waveform programming using GEOs.
Main Methods:
- Constructed synthetic protein oscillators (GEOs) from MinDE-family ATPase and activator modules in human cells.
- Systematically characterized 169 ATPase/activator GEO pairs and engineered composite GEOs.
- Designed circuits to modulate GEO frequency based on cellular activity and decoded responses using machine learning.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated fast synthetic protein oscillations serving as controllable single-cell carrier signals.
- Engineered a platform for comprehensive waveform programming with GEOs.
- Achieved sensitive, real-time FM streaming of transcription and proteasomal degradation dynamics in single cells.
Conclusions:
- GEOs provide a dynamically controllable biochemical carrier signal for noise-resistant data encoding.
- This paradigm unlocks new avenues for dynamic single-cell analysis.
- The developed platform enables advanced waveform programming for biological circuits.
