Robust multicellular computing using genetically encoded NOR gates and chemical 'wires'.

ABSTRACT: Computation underlies the organization of cells into higher-order structures, for example during development or the spatial association of bacteria in a biofilm. Each cell performs a simple computational operation, but when combined with cell-cell communication, intricate patterns emerge. Here we study this process by combining a simple genetic circuit with quorum sensing to produce more complex computations in space. We construct a simple NOR logic gate in Escherichia coli by arranging two tandem promoters that function as inputs to drive the transcription of a repressor. The repressor inactivates a promoter that serves as the output. Individual colonies of E. coli carry the same NOR gate, but the inputs and outputs are wired to different orthogonal quorum-sensing 'sender' and 'receiver'

SUBMITTER: Tamsir A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3904220 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature