Resource Competition and Growth Dilution Modulate Synthetic Gene Cascade Dynamics.

ABSTRACT: In synthetic biology, a key goal is to design robust and stable genetic circuits with accurate and predictable behavior. Modularity is a central principle in circuit design, enabling the construction of complex systems from smaller, well-characterized parts. However, resource competition presents a major obstacle to modularity by disrupting gene expression dynamics. Here, we constructed and characterized a library of inhibitory genetic cascades with varied promoter strengths, RBS strengths, and plasmid backbones. We found that increasing the expression of the downstream module could unexpectedly lead to a reduction in the expression of the upstream regulatory module by competing for shared cellular resources. These results indicate that resource limitations can transform a unidirectional i

SUBMITTER: Youssef A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12786678 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature