Team:ETH Zurich/project/infopro

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== Track: Information Processing ==
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== Information Processing ==
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''Engineering ways to make biological systems perform computation is one of the core goals of synthetic biology. We generally work at the DNA level, engineering systems to function using BioBricks. In most biological systems, protein-protein interactions are where the majority of processing takes place. We design proteins to accomplish computation would allow for systems to function on a much faster timescale than the current transcription-translation paradigm. These are some of the challenges that face teams entering projects into the Information Processing track in iGEM.''  [https://2014.igem.org/Tracks/Information_Processing iGEM]
 
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We implement a cellular automaton in bacterial colonies. Each bacterial colony is a core, computing an XOR gate. A sensor device detects the inputs, HSL molecules. Then, the cell integrates the signal through a logic gate, performed by proteins, the serine integrases. A necessary post processing step generates the production of HSL molecules. Meanwhile, GFP, a visual read out, longlastingly indicates the state of the well. The produced signal then propagates in a directive fashion through a millifluidic chip. This iterative process faces the challenges of leakiness, cross-talk, protein-level computation and diffusion.
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=== About the track ===
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[[File:ETH_Zurich2014_info_processing1.png|center|800px]]
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[https://2014.igem.org/Tracks/Information_Processing ''«Information Processing in iGEM covers a diverse range of projects. IP teams are not trying to solve a real world problem with practical applications, but to tackle an interesting problem that might otherwise not attract attention. Teams enter this track if they are attempting projects such as building elements of a biological computer, creating a game using biology or working on a signal processing challenges. Engineering ways to make biological systems perform computation is one of the core goals of synthetic biology. We generally work at the DNA level, engineering systems to function using BioBricks. In most biological systems, protein-protein interactions are where the majority of processing takes place. Being able to design proteins to accomplish computation would allow for systems to function on a much faster timescale than the current transcription-translation paradigm»'' (iGEM mainpage)]
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=== Why we chose this track ===
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With our project, Mosai''coli'', we investigate the emergence of complex patterns from simple mathematical rules. Such rules can be reduced to Boolean logic gates, in our case XOR gates. The computations were implemented with integrases, proteins modifying DNA between specific sites. These modifications in turn influence the expression of other proteins which can then indicate the previous change on the genetic level. Additionally chemical wiring of the information to the next cells happens, this again on the protein or small-molecule level. This wiring of information and repeated information processing allows the construction of cellular automata and eventually biocomputers using the analogy of electrical circuits.
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=== The goal: Emergence of patterns via information processing===
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We implement a cellular automaton with bacterial cells containing our logic circuitry. Each bacterial colony serves as a core, computing an XOR gate. First, a sensor device detects the input, ''N''-acyl homoserine lactones (AHL). Check the [https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/project/background/biotools#Biological_Tools quorum sensing and integrases article] for more information. Then, the cell integrates this signal through a logic gate, performed by serine integrases by sensing on the protein level and acting on the DNA level. A necessary post-processing step allows then the production of a new AHL variant due to activated gene expression through the integrase. Meanwhile, green fluorescent protein (GFP) indicates the state of the colony and serves as a long-lasting visual read out. The produced AHL output-signal then propagates in a directed fashion through a [https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/lab/chip millifluidic] grid to the next bacterial colony. This iterative process faces the challenges of [https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/expresults/rr#Riboregulators leakiness], crosstalk, protein-level computation and exact [https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/modeling/diffmodel diffusion] steps. This information pathway is shown in figure 1.
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[[File:ETH_Zurich2014_info_processing1.png|center|800px|thumb|'''Figure 1''' The information pathway in the project Mosai''coli'' on a colony level. Each cell colony is part of a greater memory unit (left-hand side) and gets its input information from the neighboring colonies. The input is given in the form of two different AHLs, here named A and B. This information is then step-wise processed in each of the colonies: sensing - computing - producing - sending. The output molecules serve then as the input for the next colony (middle and left-hand side). This iterative process allows the information processing from the top row of the memory unit to the bottom by chemical wiring via diffusing signals and bio-computations inside of the colonies.]]
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=== The steps involved: From sensing to sending===
=== Sensing ===
=== Sensing ===
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Diffused HSL molecules are identified via [https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/expresults#Quorum_Sensing quorum sensing]. This [https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/modeling/qs integration] from a continuous variable, the concentration of HSL, to a discrete variable, the activation of a promoter, is prone to errors due to leakiness and crosstalk between HSL molecules, regulatory proteins and promoters (we characterized it for [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_R0062 Lux promoter (BBa_R0062)], [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_R0079 Las promoter (BBa_R0079)] and [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_R0071 Rhl promoter (BBa_R0071)]). To limit the risk of error propagation throughout the rows, we used a [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1541000 riboregulating system].
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Diffused AHL molecules are identified via the [https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/expresults#Quorum_Sensing quorum sensing machinery]. The [https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/modeling/qs transfer function] between the sensed AHL concentration and the promoter activation deviates usually from the ideal one due to leakiness and crosstalk between different types of AHL molecules, regulatory proteins and promoters (we [https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/expresults/qs#Quorum_Sensing characterized] it for [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_R0062 Lux promoter (BBa_R0062)], [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_R0079 Las promoter (BBa_R0079)] and [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_R0071 Rhl promoter (BBa_R0071)]). To limit the risk of error propagation, we implemented a [http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1541000 riboregulated system].
=== Computing ===
=== Computing ===
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=== Producing ===
=== Producing ===
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The enzyme synthesizes the signaling molecule AHL.
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To propagate the computational results, the output has to be translated again into a quorum sensing molecule. Therefore a synthase is expressed to catalyze the production of a new AHL signal.
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=== Memorising ===
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Alongside the AHL synthase, GFP is produced according to the XOR truth table. The fluorescent protein acts both as long term memory for the colonies in ON-state and as visual signal, storing and showing the propagating pattern formation.
=== Sending ===
=== Sending ===
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The produced AHL diffuses through the channels to the rows below. The speed of this directed diffusion determines the time needed from the pattern to emerge. You can find out more information about diffusion and chip design on our [https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/modeling/diffmodel modeling page], our [https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/expresults#Diffusion_On_Chip experimental results page] and our [https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/lab/chip chip page].
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The produced AHL diffuses through channels on the memory unit to the rows below, becoming the input of the following information processing layer. The speed of this 'wiring' by directed diffusion determines the time needed for the pattern to emerge (as long as the channels are  relatively long and diffusion is the time-limting step as compared to the actual computation itself). You can find out more information about diffusion and chip design on our [https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/modeling/diffmodel modeling page], our [https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/expresults#Diffusion_On_Chip experimental results page] and our [https://2014.igem.org/Team:ETH_Zurich/lab/chip chip page].
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The overall process is summarized for the chip, or memory unit, level in figure 2.
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[[File:ETH_Zurich_Information_Processing_chip.png|center|600px|thumb|'''Figure 2''' The information pathway in the project Mosai''coli'' on the chip level. After initializing the signal in the top row, it propagates through the wells chemically wired by directed diffusion. In each well, a bacterial colony has to be able to proceed in the information pathway: sensing, integrating (computing), producing and sending. These successive iterations leads to possible error propagation and robustness is one major issue of our system.]]
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=== Memorising ===
 
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[[File:ETH_Zurich_Information_Processing_chip.png|center|800px|thumb|After initializing the signal, it propagates through the wells with directed diffusion. In each well, bacterial colonies have to be able to proceed in the information pathway: detecting (sensing), integrating (computing), producing and sending. These successive iterations leads to possible error propagation. Robustness is one major issue of our system.]]
 
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Latest revision as of 03:38, 18 October 2014

iGEM ETH Zurich 2014