We describe an innovative experimental and computational approach to control the expression of a protein in a population of yeast cells. We designed a simple control algorithm to automatically regulate the administration of inducer molecules to the cells by comparing the actual protein expression level in the cell population with the desired expression level. We then built an automated platform based on a microfluidic device, a time-lapse microscopy apparatus, and a set of motorized syringes, all controlled by a computer. We tested the platform to force yeast cells to express a desired fixed, or time-varying, amount of a reporter protein over thousands of minutes. The computer automatically switched the type of sugar administered to the cells, its concentration and its duration, according to the control algorithm. Our approach can be used to control expression of any protein, fused to a fluorescent reporter, provided that an external molecule known to (indirectly) affect its promoter activity is available.

In-vivo real-time control of protein expression from endogenous and synthetic gene networks / Menolascina, Filippo; Fiore, Gianfranco; Orabona, Emanuele; De, Stefano; Luca, ; Ferry, Mike; Hasty, Jeff; DI BERNARDO, Mario; DI BERNARDO, Diego. - In: PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY. - ISSN 1553-734X. - 10:(2014), p. e1003625. [10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003625]

In-vivo real-time control of protein expression from endogenous and synthetic gene networks

FIORE, GIANFRANCO;DI BERNARDO, MARIO;DI BERNARDO, DIEGO
2014

Abstract

We describe an innovative experimental and computational approach to control the expression of a protein in a population of yeast cells. We designed a simple control algorithm to automatically regulate the administration of inducer molecules to the cells by comparing the actual protein expression level in the cell population with the desired expression level. We then built an automated platform based on a microfluidic device, a time-lapse microscopy apparatus, and a set of motorized syringes, all controlled by a computer. We tested the platform to force yeast cells to express a desired fixed, or time-varying, amount of a reporter protein over thousands of minutes. The computer automatically switched the type of sugar administered to the cells, its concentration and its duration, according to the control algorithm. Our approach can be used to control expression of any protein, fused to a fluorescent reporter, provided that an external molecule known to (indirectly) affect its promoter activity is available.
2014
In-vivo real-time control of protein expression from endogenous and synthetic gene networks / Menolascina, Filippo; Fiore, Gianfranco; Orabona, Emanuele; De, Stefano; Luca, ; Ferry, Mike; Hasty, Jeff; DI BERNARDO, Mario; DI BERNARDO, Diego. - In: PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY. - ISSN 1553-734X. - 10:(2014), p. e1003625. [10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003625]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11588/585877
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