Engineered cell-cell communication via DNA messaging
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Evolution has selected for organisms that benefit from genetically encoded cell-cell communication. Engineers have begun to repurpose elements of natural communication systems to realize programmed pattern formation and coordinate ot...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2012-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Biological Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.jbioleng.org/content/6/1/16 |
| _version_ | 1819141170474778624 |
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| author | Ortiz Monica E Endy Drew |
| author_facet | Ortiz Monica E Endy Drew |
| author_sort | Ortiz Monica E |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Evolution has selected for organisms that benefit from genetically encoded cell-cell communication. Engineers have begun to repurpose elements of natural communication systems to realize programmed pattern formation and coordinate other population-level behaviors. However, existing engineered systems rely on system-specific small molecules to send molecular messages among cells. Thus, the information transmission capacity of current engineered biological communication systems is physically limited by specific biomolecules that are capable of sending only a single message, typically “regulate transcription.”</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have engineered a cell-cell communication platform using bacteriophage M13 gene products to autonomously package and deliver heterologous DNA messages of varying lengths and encoded functions. We demonstrate the decoupling of messages from a common communication channel via the autonomous transmission of various arbitrary genetic messages. Further, we increase the range of engineered DNA messaging across semisolid media by linking message transmission or receipt to active cellular chemotaxis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We demonstrate decoupling of a communication channel from message transmission within engineered biological systems via the autonomous targeted transduction of user-specified heterologous DNA messages. We also demonstrate that bacteriophage M13 particle production and message transduction occurs among chemotactic bacteria. We use chemotaxis to improve the range of DNA messaging, increasing both transmission distance and communication bit rates relative to existing small molecule-based communication systems. We postulate that integration of different engineered cell-cell communication platforms will allow for more complex spatial programming of dynamic cellular consortia.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:50:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f11563e6e0e45fea617b5b7512ce6b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1754-1611 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:50:12Z |
| publishDate | 2012-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Biological Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-0f11563e6e0e45fea617b5b7512ce6b42022-12-21T18:27:00ZengBMCJournal of Biological Engineering1754-16112012-09-01611610.1186/1754-1611-6-16Engineered cell-cell communication via DNA messagingOrtiz Monica EEndy Drew<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Evolution has selected for organisms that benefit from genetically encoded cell-cell communication. Engineers have begun to repurpose elements of natural communication systems to realize programmed pattern formation and coordinate other population-level behaviors. However, existing engineered systems rely on system-specific small molecules to send molecular messages among cells. Thus, the information transmission capacity of current engineered biological communication systems is physically limited by specific biomolecules that are capable of sending only a single message, typically “regulate transcription.”</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have engineered a cell-cell communication platform using bacteriophage M13 gene products to autonomously package and deliver heterologous DNA messages of varying lengths and encoded functions. We demonstrate the decoupling of messages from a common communication channel via the autonomous transmission of various arbitrary genetic messages. Further, we increase the range of engineered DNA messaging across semisolid media by linking message transmission or receipt to active cellular chemotaxis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We demonstrate decoupling of a communication channel from message transmission within engineered biological systems via the autonomous targeted transduction of user-specified heterologous DNA messages. We also demonstrate that bacteriophage M13 particle production and message transduction occurs among chemotactic bacteria. We use chemotaxis to improve the range of DNA messaging, increasing both transmission distance and communication bit rates relative to existing small molecule-based communication systems. We postulate that integration of different engineered cell-cell communication platforms will allow for more complex spatial programming of dynamic cellular consortia.</p>http://www.jbioleng.org/content/6/1/16Synthetic biologyAmorphous computingCell-cell signalingProgrammed pattern formationCommunication theory |
| spellingShingle | Ortiz Monica E Endy Drew Engineered cell-cell communication via DNA messaging Journal of Biological Engineering Synthetic biology Amorphous computing Cell-cell signaling Programmed pattern formation Communication theory |
| title | Engineered cell-cell communication via DNA messaging |
| title_full | Engineered cell-cell communication via DNA messaging |
| title_fullStr | Engineered cell-cell communication via DNA messaging |
| title_full_unstemmed | Engineered cell-cell communication via DNA messaging |
| title_short | Engineered cell-cell communication via DNA messaging |
| title_sort | engineered cell cell communication via dna messaging |
| topic | Synthetic biology Amorphous computing Cell-cell signaling Programmed pattern formation Communication theory |
| url | http://www.jbioleng.org/content/6/1/16 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ortizmonicae engineeredcellcellcommunicationviadnamessaging AT endydrew engineeredcellcellcommunicationviadnamessaging |