GENETICALLY ENCODED SYNTHETIC REACTION-DIFFUSION SYSTEM THAT CAN GENERATE PROGRAMMABLE OSCILLATIONS, PATTERNS, AND SPATIOTEMPORAL SIGNALING CIRCUITS IN MAMMALIAN CELLS

Smart overview of the Invention

Innovative compositions and methods are introduced for creating spatial and temporal molecular distributions in cells. By leveraging proteins that have distinct spatial or temporal roles in their natural environments, these proteins can be expressed in new environments to produce varied spatial and temporal patterns. This approach allows for the generation of dynamic cellular behaviors such as oscillations, waves, and patterns. The foundational model involves expressing MinD and MinE proteins within Eukaryotic cells.

Background

The dynamic organization of proteins in space and time is crucial for cellular functions like growth, processing information, and movement. Disruptions can lead to diseases, while pathogens exploit these dynamics to manipulate host cells. Current tools for organizing protein dynamics in living cells are limited, often forcing a trade-off between genetic encodability and dynamic control. This invention addresses the gap by enabling artificial creation of dynamic molecular patterns within cells.

Key Components

The invention includes compositions or kits with one or more polynucleotides containing sequences of MinD and/or MinE proteins. Methods are provided to direct molecule distributions within a cell by expressing a MinDE protein pair in Eukaryotic cells. These proteins can be coupled with functional molecules, generating signals detectable at specific frequencies related to the reaction diffusion frequency of MinD and MinE.

Applications

The method exploits behaviors generated by non-natively expressed protein pairs to create various molecular patterns like oscillations or waves. Functional moieties can be coupled to these patterns, offering utility in cellular functions. Adjusting the concentrations of MinD and MinE allows tailoring of spatial and temporal distributions, potentially enabling applications in cellular identification through unique frequency modulations.

Technical Details

The invention relies on polynucleotides, which include various forms of DNA and RNA sequences. The precise concentration adjustments of MinD and MinE facilitate desired spatial-temporal distributions. Coupling these proteins with payloads like reporter molecules enables visualization and functional utility within cells, offering a new method for probing cellular identities through optical techniques.