Team:ETH Zurich/project/infopro
From 2014.igem.org
Information Processing
Information Processing
About the track
Why we chose this track
With our project, Mosaicoli, 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.
The goal: Emergence of patterns via information processing
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). 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 millifluidic grid to the next bacterial colony. This iterative process faces the challenges of leakiness, cross-talk, protein-level computation and exact diffusion steps. This information pathway is shown in figure 1.
![](/wiki/images/d/d2/ETH_Zurich2014_info_processing1.png)
The steps involved: From sensing to sending
Sensing
Diffused AHL molecules are identified via the quorum sensing machinery. The 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 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
Integrases compute an XOR logic gate via single switching or double switching of a terminator. Their behavior depends on a set of parameters.
Producing
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.
Memorising
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
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 modeling page, our experimental results page and our chip page.
The overall process is summarized for the chip, or memory unit, level in figure 2.
![](/wiki/images/c/ce/ETH_Zurich_Information_Processing_chip.png)