Complex signal processing in synthetic gene circuits using cooperative regulatory assemblies

Abstract

Cooperativity in synthetic gene circuits Synthetic biologists would like to be able to make gene regulatory circuits that mimic key properties of eukaryotic gene regulation. Taking a cue from multimeric transcription factor complexes, Bashor et al. developed synthetic transcriptional circuits that produce nonlinear behavior from cooperativity (see the Perspective by Ng and El-Samad). Their system uses clamp proteins with multiple protein-interaction domains. Circuit behavior can be tuned by altering the number or affinities of the interactions according to a mathematical model. The authors created synthetic circuits with desired functions common in biology, for example, switch-like behavior or Boolean decision functions. Science , this issue p. 593 ; see also p. 531