CTSB News Channel

Cell-​in-the-loop pattern formation with optogenetically emulated cell-​to-cell signaling

In 'A universal biomolecular integral feedback controller for robust perfect adaptation,' a synthetic gene circuit implementing an integral feedback topology is shown to achieve robust perfect adaptation in living cells--mathematical analysis proves this topology is necessary for adaptation in networks with noisy dynamics.

Article descibes a novel technique that uses  millions of micromirrors to shine blue-light onto live yeast cells to activate each cell's gene transcription and to visualize and quantify the resulting mRNA. The technique allows a digital computer to precisely and independently control each cell's mRNA using optogenetic feedback. 

Article reports on a new T7-based optogenetic light system for precise control of gene expression.

The article describes our latest Cyborg cells! By interfacing bacterial cells to a computer through optogenetics, we are able to build an automated, light-mediated feedback control system for controling cellular processes. We demonstrate this technology by using it to achieve very precise and robust regulation of gene expression and cell growth.

This article introduces a new motif for biologically implementing integral feedback.

This article shows theoretically and experimentally how optimal noise filters can be realized as biochemical circuits. Those can be understood as molecular counterparts of the Kalman filter.

The article reports a method to measure and analyze mRNA and proteins simulatenously in single mammalian cells.

Introducing a new regulation motif, our article demonstrates how precision and noise can work in accord when antithetic integral feedback is employed to maintain homeostasis.

The article reports a new method for experiment design using light-inducible gene expression in yeast.  

Our paper, Systematic Identification of Signal-Activated Stochastic Gene Regulation, appears in the 1 February issue of Science.