Biology subjects

VanArsdale, E.

Publications and source records attributed to VanArsdale, E..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Redox-enabled Electronic Interrogation and Feedback Control of Hierarchical and Networked Biological Systems

We enable microelectronic devices to interrogate biologys molecular communication, perform computations, and in real time control biological systems, including at several hierarchical levels: proteins, cells, and cell consortia. A key driver is establishing electronic access to and from biologys native redox networks. First, redox-mediated electro-biofabrication facilitates facile assembly of biological components onto microelectronic systems, then electrode-actuated redox allows digital programming of enzyme activity, and further, redox-mediated electrogenetics facilitates closed-loop electronic control of cellular function. Specifically, we show algorithm-based feedback control of enzyme activity, cellular genetic circuits (via eCRISPR) and cell consortia behavior, all enabled by electronic data transfer. We further demonstrate electronic switching of cell-cell quorum sensing communication from one autoinducer network to another, creating an electronically controlled "bilingual" cell. We suggest these methodologies will not only help us to better understand biological systems, but design and control those currently unimagined.

synthetic biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Electrogenetic signaling and information propagation for controlling microbial consortia via programmed lysis

To probe signal propagation and genetic actuation in microbial consortia, we have coopted the components of both redox and quorum sensing (QS) signaling into a communication network for guiding composition by "programming" cell lysis. Here, we use an electrode to generate hydrogen peroxide as a redox cue that determines consortia composition. The oxidative stress regulon of Escherichia coli, OxyR, is employed to receive and transform this signal into a QS signal that coordinates the lysis of a subpopulation of cells. We examine a suite of information transfer modalities including "monoculture" and "transmitter-receiver" models, as well as a series of genetic circuits that introduce time-delays for altering information relay, thereby expanding design space. A simple mathematical model aids in developing communication schemes that accommodate the transient nature of redox signals and the "collective" attributes of QS signals. We suggest this platform methodology will be useful in understanding and controlling synthetic microbial consortia for a variety of applications, including biomanufacturing and biocontainment.

synthetic biology↗