In this section

Research

Biological systems - including the simplest cells - exhibit a broad range of functions to thrive in their environment. Research in the Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology is focused on the possibility of engineering the underlying biochemical processes to solve many of the challenges facing society, from healthcare to sustainable energy. In particular, we model, analyse, design and build biological and biochemical systems in living cells and/or in cell extracts, both exploring and enhancing the engineering potential of biology.

As part of our research we develop novel methods to accelerate the celebrated Design-Build-Test-Learn synthetic biology cycle. As such research in the Centre for Synthetic Biology highly multi- and interdisciplinary covering computational modelling and machine learning approaches; automated platform development and genetic circuit engineering ; multi-cellular and multi-organismal interactions, including gene drive and genome engineering; metabolic engineering; in vitro/cell-free synthetic biology; engineered phages and directed evolution; and biomimetics, biomaterials and biological engineering.

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Perez-Carrasco:2018:10.1016/j.cels.2018.02.008,
author = {Perez-Carrasco, R and Barnes, CP and Schaerli, Y and Isalan, M and Briscoe, J and Page, KM},
doi = {10.1016/j.cels.2018.02.008},
journal = {Cell Systems},
pages = {521--530.e3},
title = {Combining a toggle switch and a repressilator within the AC-DC circuit generates distinct dynamical behaviors},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cels.2018.02.008},
volume = {6},
year = {2018}
}

Download

RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Although the structure of a genetically encoded regulatory circuit is an important determinant of its function, the relationship between circuit topology and the dynamical behaviors it can exhibit is not well understood. Here, we explore the range of behaviors available to the AC-DC circuit. This circuit consists of three genes connected as a combination of a toggle switch and a repressilator. Using dynamical systems theory, we show that the AC-DC circuit exhibits both oscillations and bistability within the same region of parameter space; this generates emergent behaviors not available to either the toggle switch or the repressilator alone. The AC-DC circuit can switch on oscillations via two distinct mechanisms, one of which induces coherence into ensembles of oscillators. In addition, we show that in the presence of noise, the AC-DC circuit can behave as an excitable system capable of spatial signal propagation or coherence resonance. Together, these results demonstrate how combinations of simple motifs can exhibit multiple complex behaviors.
AU  - Perez-Carrasco,R
AU  - Barnes,CP
AU  - Schaerli,Y
AU  - Isalan,M
AU  - Briscoe,J
AU  - Page,KM
DO  - 10.1016/j.cels.2018.02.008
EP  - 530
PY  - 2018///
SN  - 2405-4712
SP  - 521
TI  - Combining a toggle switch and a repressilator within the AC-DC circuit generates distinct dynamical behaviors
T2  - Cell Systems
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cels.2018.02.008
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/56875
VL  - 6
ER  -