Synthetic multicellular oscillatory systems: controlling protein dynamics with genetic circuits

Synthetic biology is a relatively new research discipline that combines standard biology approaches with the constructive nature of engineering. Thus, recent efforts in the field of synthetic biology have given a perspective to consider cells as ‘programmable matter’. Here, we address the possibility of using synthetic circuits to control protein dynamics. In particular, we show how intercellular communication and stochasticity can be used to manipulate the dynamical behavior of a population of coupled synthetic units and, in this manner, finely tune the expression of specific proteins of interest, e.g. in large bioreactors. PACS numbers: 05.45.−a, 89.75.−k, 87.18.Gh, 87.18.Tt, 87.18.Vf (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version.)