Automated design of gene circuits with optimal mushroom-bifurcation behavior

Recent advances in synthetic biology are enabling exciting technologies, including the next generation of biosensors, the rational design of cell memory, modulated synthetic cell differentiation, and generic multifunctional biocircuits. These novel applications require the design of gene circuits leading to sophisticated behaviors and functionalities. At the same time, designs need to be kept minimal to avoid compromising cell viability. Bifurcation theory addresses such challenges by associating circuit dynamical properties with molecular details of its design. Nevertheless, incorporating bifurcation analysis into automated design processes has not been accomplished yet. This work presents an optimization-based method for the automated design of synthetic gene circuits with specified bifurcation diagrams that employ minimal network topologies. Using this approach, we designed circuits exhibiting the mushroom bifurcation, distilled the most robust topologies, and explored its multifunctional behavior. We then outline potential applications in biosensors, memory devices, and synthetic cell differentiation

Automated Biocircuit Design with SYNBADm

18 pages, 12 figuresSYNBADm is a Matlab toolbox for the automated design of biocircuits using a model-based optimization approach. It enables the design of biocircuits with pre-defined functions starting from libraries of biological parts. SYNBADm makes use of mixed integer global optimization and allows both single and multi-objective design problems. Here we describe a basic protocol for the design of synthetic gene regulatory circuits. We illustrate step-by-step how to solve two different problems: (1) the (single objective) design of a synthetic oscillator and (2) the (multi-objective) design of a circuit with switch-like behavior upon induction, with a good compromise between performance and protein production costThis research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, project SYNBIOCONTROL (ref. DPI2017-82896-C2-2-R)N

Dynamic analysis and control of biochemical reaction networks

11 páginas, 2 figurasIn the present work, we combine the concepts and tools from Irreversible Thermodynamics and Control Theory in a contribution to unravel the origin of complex nonlinear behaviour in biochemical networks. Regarding cells as thermodynamic systems, we can consider dynamic evolution of intracellular processes in terms of the combined action of an endogenous entropy production and the entropy flux associated to chemicals passing through the control volume. Based on a generalized description of biochemical systems, a physically motivated storage function is constructed and used for stability analysis. In this way, the entropy flux of open systems can be meaningfully modified by efficient nonlinear control schemes capable of network stabilization, and irreversible thermodynamics provide us with the physical insight to further interpret the controlled response.The authors acknowledge financial support received from the Spanish Government (MCyT Projects PPQ2001-3643 and DPI2004-07444-C04-03) and Xunta de Galicia (PGIDIT02-PXIC40209PN). This research was partially supported by the Hungarian grants no. T042710, F046223, which are gratefully acknowledged. The second author is a grantee of the Bolyai J´anos Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.Peer reviewe

Automated design of gene circuits with optimal mushroom-bifurcation behaviour

Recent advances in synthetic biology are enabling exciting technologies, including the next generation of biosensors, the rational design of cell memory, modulated synthetic cell differentiation and generic multifunctional biocircuits. These novel applications require the design of gene circuits leading to sophisticated behaviours and functionalities. At the same time, designs need to be kept minimal to avoid compromising cell viability. Bifurcation theory addresses such challenges by associating circuit dynamical properties with molecular details of its design. Nevertheless, incorporating bifurcation analysis into automated design processes has not been accomplished yet. This work presents an optimization-based method for the automated design of synthetic gene circuits with specified bifurcation diagrams that employ minimal network topologies. Using this approach, we designed circuits exhibiting the mushroom bifurcation, distilled the most robust topologies and explored its multi-functional behavior. We then outline potential applications in biosensors, memory devices, and synthetic cell differentiation