Difference between revisions of "Team:Penn"

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<p style="font-size:150%"> Communication between bacterial cells is essential for coordinating population-level activity. In a process known as quorum sensing, bacterial species produce a class of chemical signaling molecules, termed auto-inducers, in order to enable large groups of bacteria to synchronize gene expression paradigms. However, since chemical signals must diffuse between sender and receiver cells for successful communication to occur, communication is restrictedto cells that share the same environment and compatible parts.The 2015 Penn iGEM team has worked towards expanding cell-to-cell communication to include a transfer of information between isolated cells via light. The genetic circuits designed closely resemble an electrical system known as an optocoupler which allows for electrical signals to be transferred between two circuits operating at incompatible voltages by designing a light sender and receiver system (Figure 1). In a similar approach, we engineered a separate "sender" cell that generates light via bio luminescence and "receiver" cells that express photoreceptors to enable light-dependent physiological responses. The team also further illuminated potential applications for this alternative form of light-based communication.
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<p> Communication between cells is instrumental in coordinating population-level activity. In a process known as "quorum sensing," bacteria both secrete and sense autoinducer signaling molecules to enable synchronization of group gene expression paradigms. The synthetic biology community has rapidly adopted these quorum signaling pathways for use in programmed circuitry. However, chemical signals must diffuse between sender and receiver cells, limiting such communication to a common environment. In electronics, when electrical signals must be transferred between two circuits operating at incompatible voltages, electrical engineers use optocouplers, components that transfer information between isolated circuits via light. The 2015 Penn iGEM team presents a biological analog of the optocoupler, a cell-to-cell communication system in which a "sender" cell generates light via bioluminesence and a "receiver" cell expresses photoreceptors to enable light-dependent physiological responses. We show that light elicits a response in light-sensitive receivers and illuminated potential applications for this alternative form of cell communication.</p>
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Revision as of 14:58, 4 September 2015

University of Pennsylvania iGEM







Communication between cells is instrumental in coordinating population-level activity. In a process known as "quorum sensing," bacteria both secrete and sense autoinducer signaling molecules to enable synchronization of group gene expression paradigms. The synthetic biology community has rapidly adopted these quorum signaling pathways for use in programmed circuitry. However, chemical signals must diffuse between sender and receiver cells, limiting such communication to a common environment. In electronics, when electrical signals must be transferred between two circuits operating at incompatible voltages, electrical engineers use optocouplers, components that transfer information between isolated circuits via light. The 2015 Penn iGEM team presents a biological analog of the optocoupler, a cell-to-cell communication system in which a "sender" cell generates light via bioluminesence and a "receiver" cell expresses photoreceptors to enable light-dependent physiological responses. We show that light elicits a response in light-sensitive receivers and illuminated potential applications for this alternative form of cell communication.