Signalling and differentiation in emulsion-based multi-compartmentalized in vitro gene circuits.

ABSTRACT: Multicellularity enables the growth of complex life forms as it allows for the specialization of cell types, differentiation and large-scale spatial organization. In a similar way, modular construction of synthetic multicellular systems will lead to dynamic biomimetic materials that can respond to their environment in complex ways. To achieve this goal, artificial cellular communication and developmental programs still have to be established. Here, we create geometrically controlled spatial arrangements of emulsion-based artificial cellular compartments containing synthetic in vitro gene circuitry, separated by lipid bilayer membranes. We quantitatively determine the membrane pore-dependent response of the circuits to artificial morphogen gradients, which are established via diffusion from

SUBMITTER: Dupin A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6298583 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature