A synthetic multicellular system for programmed pattern formation

(Mitja Crček)

A synthetic multicellular system for programmed pattern formation

Subhayu Basu, Yoram Gerchman, Cynthia H. Collins, Frances H. Arnold & Ron Weiss

Nature 434, 1130-1134 (28 April 2005)

INTRODUCTION

Pattern formation is a frequently observed behavior in the living world. Many years ago scientists started to examine a pattern formation in prokaryotes and later also in eukaryotes. Here we focus on bacterial patterns because their formation has lower complexity and is therefore easier to understand. Microbiologists found that in nature, bacteria have to deal with many different environmental conditions. To increase the viability of the single bacteria, bacterial colonies are formed. To do that, bacteria had to develop complex communication pathways. Those networks are nowadays well studied and therefore synthetic biologists could start researching synthetic multicellular systems for programmed pattern formation.

Here we first explain the basics of cell-cell communication using acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) as signal molecule so the pattern formation process will be easier to understand. We describe Tet regulatory system, lux operon, lac operon and Lac repressor to explain the molecular basis and show the role of AHL.