Open AccessSynthesizing a novel genetic sequential logic circuit: a push‐on push‐off switch
Author(s) -
Lou Chunbo,
Liu Xili,
Ni Ming,
Huang Yiqi,
Huang Qiushi,
Huang Longwen,
Jiang Lingli,
Lu Dan,
Wang Mingcong,
Liu Chang,
Chen Daizhuo,
Chen Chongyi,
Chen Xiaoyue,
Yang Le,
Ma Haisu,
Chen Jianguo,
Ouyang Qi
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
molecular systems biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.523
H-Index - 148
ISSN - 1744-4292
DOI - 10.1038/msb.2010.2
Subject(s) - bistability , sequential logic , electronic circuit , synthetic biology , computer science , logic gate , state (computer science) , and gate , signal (programming language) , electronic engineering , biology , engineering , electrical engineering , algorithm , computational biology , programming language , physics , quantum mechanics
Design and synthesis of basic functional circuits are the fundamental tasks of synthetic biologists. Before it is possible to engineer higher‐order genetic networks that can perform complex functions, a toolkit of basic devices must be developed. Among those devices, sequential logic circuits are expected to be the foundation of the genetic information‐processing systems. In this study, we report the design and construction of a genetic sequential logic circuit in Escherichia coli . It can generate different outputs in response to the same input signal on the basis of its internal state, and ‘memorize’ the output. The circuit is composed of two parts: (1) a bistable switch memory module and (2) a double‐repressed promoter NOR gate module. The two modules were individually rationally designed, and they were coupled together by fine‐tuning the interconnecting parts through directed evolution. After fine‐tuning, the circuit could be repeatedly, alternatively triggered by the same input signal; it functions as a push‐on push‐off switch.