Propagating gene expression fronts in a one-dimensional coupled system of artificial cells

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Living systems employ front propagation and spatiotemporal patterns encoded in biochemical reactions for communication, self-organization and computation1,2,3,4. Emulating such dynamics in minimal systems is important for understanding physical principles in living cells5,6,7,8 and in vitro9,10,11,12,13,14. Here, we report a one-dimensional array of DNA compartments in a silicon chip as a coupled system of artificial cells, offering the means to implement reaction–diffusion dynamics by integrated genetic circuits and chip geometry. Using a bistable circuit we programmed a front of protein synthesis propagating in the array as a cascade of signal amplification and short-range diffusion. The front velocity is maximal at a saddle-node bifurcation from a bistable regime with travelling fronts to a monostable regime that is spatially homogeneous. Near the bifurcation the system exhibits large variability between compartments, providing a possible mechanism for population diversity. This demonstrates that on-chip integrated gene circuits are dynamical systems driving spatiotemporal patterns, cellular variability and symmetry breaking.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1037-1041
Number of pages5
JournalNature Physics
Volume11
Issue number12
Early online date21 Sep 2015
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Propagating gene expression fronts in a one-dimensional coupled system of artificial cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this