Themed collection Synthetic Biology 2012-2014

In this review we focus on the strengths and limitations of in vivo and in silico techniques for studying microbial evolution in the laboratory, and we discuss how these complementary approaches can be integrated in a unifying framework.

An optogenetic tool was established allowing for precise, gradual and homogeneous light-triggering of lac-based gene expression in a non-invasive fashion.

A ratiometric fluorescent indicator for organic hydroperoxide (OHP) was developed and utilized for the study of endogenous OHP dynamics with subcellular precision.

Understanding in vivo regulation of isoprenoid biosynthesis is important for identifying strategies to improve carbon fluxes to desirable endproducts.

Living fibroblasts spontaneously incorporate a synthetic semiconducting fluorophore and physiologically generate fluorescent conductive microfibers, secreted intracellularly and subsequently extruded.

This work experimentally and computationally evaluates the conditions necessary to establish robust gene expression patterns in engineered tissues in vitro.

The authors investigate the expression dynamics in a cell-free expression system and establish a minimalistic rate equation model to concurrently fit multiple data sets of GFP synthesis.

A normal distribution exists for the Hurst exponent of the essential genes in most of the analyzed bacterial genomes.

We have developed a culturing apparatus and feedback control scheme which, in combination with an optogenetic system, allows us to generate defined perturbations in the intracellular concentration of a specific protein in microbial cell culture.

This study describes the development of probes for studying the intracellular disassembly kinetics and trafficking of siRNA nanocarriers in a cancer cell line from two different viewpoints; siRNA release and nanoparticle disassembly.

Cells were transduced with Ras transgenes expressed from various synthetic promoters. High resolution dose-response curves relating expression and phenotype were achieved through analysis of cell heterogeneity.