Open AccessTuring Patterning Using Gene Circuits with Gas-Induced Degradation of Quorum Sensing Molecules
Author(s) -
Bartłomiej Borek,
Jeff Hasty,
Lev S. Tsimring
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0153679
Subject(s) - quorum sensing , synthetic biology , turing , robustness (evolution) , biology , gene , gene regulatory network , activator (genetics) , computational biology , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , computer science , genetics , virulence , programming language
The Turing instability was proposed more than six decades ago as a mechanism leading to spatial patterning, but it has yet to be exploited in a synthetic biology setting. Here we characterize the Turing instability in a specific gene circuit that can be implemented in vitro or in populations of clonal cells producing short-range activator N-Acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) and long-range inhibitor hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) gas. Slowing the production rate of the AHL-degrading enzyme, AiiA, generates stable fixed states, limit cycle oscillations and Turing patterns. Further tuning of signaling parameters determines local robustness and controls the range of unstable wavenumbers in the patterning regime. These findings provide a roadmap for optimizing spatial patterns of gene expression based on familiar quorum and gas sensitive E. coli promoters. The circuit design and predictions may be useful for (re)programming spatial dynamics in synthetic and natural gene expression systems.