Engineering Bioinspired Molecular Networks and Synthetic Cells

Abstract
Complex signalling networks enable living cells to process information from their environment using an intricate network of regulatory interactions. These biochemical circuits function by converting an input signal (stimulus) through spatiotemporal interplay of signalling molecules (transduction) to an output response (function). Inspired by biology, we engineer a range of minimalistic, artificial signalling systems by employing a cell-free bottom-up strategy. Such simplified model systems composed of fewer species each with well-defined interactions could help isolate key molecular parameters and thus have the potential to uncover generalizable concepts. In this lecture I will discuss the influence of molecular scaffolds on caspase catalysis, retroactivity in bistable circuits and a synthetic cellular consortium that is able to communicate using DNA.