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Modular approaches to expanding the functions of living matter

Nature Chemical Biology volume 2, pages 304–311 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The synthesis of increasingly complex unnatural networks embedded in living matter is an emerging theme in synthetic biology. Synthetic networks have allowed the creation of organisms endowed with toggle switches, logic gates, pattern-forming systems, oscillators, cellular sensors, new modes of gene regulation and expanded genetic codes. A common challenge of this work is the addition of specific new functions to complex living organisms. This requires spatial and temporal control of molecular interactions and fluxes to achieve the desired outcomes. Here we review recent successes in this emerging field and discuss strategies for addressing the challenges of increasing network complexity.

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Figure 1: New functions from repressor circuits.
Figure 2: A pattern-forming circuit.
Figure 3: Examples of unnatural signal transduction.
Figure 4: Expanding the genetic code.
Figure 5: Synthetic post-transcriptional gene regulation.
Figure 6: Orthogonal translation.

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Acknowledgements

I thank J.J. Collins, M.B. Elowitz, M. Kaern and R. Weiss for sharing figures, and T.A. Cropp, J.C. Anderson, P. Holliger and P. Lee for critical reading. J.W. Chin is an EMBO Young Investigator.

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  1. Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QH, UK

    Jason W Chin

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Correspondence to Jason W Chin.

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Chin, J. Modular approaches to expanding the functions of living matter. Nat Chem Biol 2, 304–311 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio789

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