Chemical communication between bacteria and cell-free gene expression systems within linear chains of emulsion droplets
Chemical communication between bacteria and cell-free gene expression systems within linear chains of emulsion droplets
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DOI：
10.1039/c5ib00301f
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发表时间：
2016-01-01
影响因子：
2.5
通讯作者：
Simmel, F. C.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Schwarz-Schilling, M.;Aufinger, L.;Simmel, F. C.
在发育过程中，位置依赖的基因在形态原梯度中的表达是细胞分化的关键过程之一。在这里，我们研究了一个简单的人工分化过程，它基于遗传诱导剂在50 mm大的油包水液滴的一维排列中的扩散。这些液滴充满了细菌或无细胞基因表达系统，两者都配备了产生诱导剂或通过表达荧光蛋白对其做出反应的遗传结构。我们定量地研究了扩散-基因表达的耦合过程，并证明了基因表达可以在含细菌和无细胞的液滴中依赖于位置。通过在原位产生扩散的群体感应信号，我们还在人工无细胞发送细胞和细菌接收细胞之间建立了通信，反之亦然。
Position-dependent gene expression in gradients of morphogens is one of the key processes involved in cellular differentiation during development. Here, we study a simple artificial differentiation process, which is based on the diffusion of genetic inducers within one-dimensional arrangements of 50 mm large water-in-oil droplets. The droplets are filled with either bacteria or cell-free gene expression systems, both equipped with genetic constructs that produce inducers or respond to them via expression of a fluorescent protein. We quantitatively study the coupled diffusion-gene expression process and demonstrate that gene expression can be made position-dependent both within bacteria-containing and cell-free droplets. By generating diffusing quorum sensing signals in situ, we also establish communication between artificial cell-free sender cells and bacterial receivers, and vice versa.