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bioRxiv · 10.1101/511725

Distributed DNA-based Communication in Populations of Synthetic Protocells

Joesaar, A.·Yang, S.·Bogels, B.·van der Linden, A.·Kumar, P.·Dalchau, N.·Phillips, A.·Mann, S.·de Greef, T.
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Abstract

Developing distributed communication platforms based on orthogonal molecular communication channels is a crucial step towards engineering artificial multicellular systems. Here, we present a general and scalable platform entitled Biomolecular Implementation of Protocellular Communication (BIO-PC) to engineer distributed multichannel molecular communication between populations of non-lipid semipermeable microcapsules. Our method leverages the modularity and scalability of enzyme-free DNA strand-displacement circuits to develop protocellular consortia that can sense, process and respond to DNA-based messages. We engineer a rich variety of biochemical communication devices capable of cascaded amplification, bidirectional communication and distributed computational operations. Encapsulating DNA strand-displacement circuits further allows their use in concentrated serum where non-compartmentalized DNA circuits cannot operate. BIO-PC enables reliable execution of distributed DNA-based molecular programs in biologically relevant environments and opens new directions in DNA computing and minimal cell technology.

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Joesaar, A., Yang, S., Bogels, B., van der Linden, A., Kumar, P., Dalchau, N., Phillips, A., Mann, S., de Greef, T.. 2019-01-04. Distributed DNA-based Communication in Populations of Synthetic Protocells. https://doi.org/10.1101/511725

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