Track: Information Processing

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. iGEM

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.

Sensing

Diffused HSL molecules are identified via quorum sensing. This 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 Lux promoter (BBa_R0062), Las promoter (BBa_R0079) and Rhl promoter (BBa_R0071)). To limit the risk of error propagation throughout the rows, we used a riboregulating 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

The enzyme synthesizes the signaling molecule AHL.

Sending

The AHL produced diffuses then 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 modeling page, our experimental results page and our chip page.

Memorising

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.