4.8 Article

Engineering synthetic morphogen systems that can program multicellular patterning

Journal

SCIENCE
Volume 370, Issue 6514, Pages 327-+

Publisher

AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1126/science.abc0033

Keywords

-

Funding

  1. Human Frontiers of Science Program (HFSP)
  2. Senri Life Science Foundation
  3. Kato Memorial Bioscience Foundation
  4. JSPS KAKENHI [20K15828]
  5. World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), MEXT, Japan
  6. Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship [F32DK123939]
  7. NSF Center for Cellular Construction [DBI-1548297]
  8. DARPA Engineered Living Materials program
  9. Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  10. NIH [R01-DE028496, R35-DE026602]
  11. Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research [20K15828] Funding Source: KAKEN

Ask authors/readers for more resources

In metazoan tissues, cells decide their fates by sensing positional information provided by specialized morphogen proteins. To explore what features are sufficient for positional encoding, we asked whether arbitrary molecules (e.g., green fluorescent protein or mCherry) could be converted into synthetic morphogens. Synthetic morphogens expressed from a localized source formed a gradient when trapped by surface-anchoring proteins, and they could be sensed by synthetic receptors. Despite their simplicity, these morphogen systems yielded patterns reminiscent of those observed in vivo. Gradients could be reshaped by altering anchor density or by providing a source of competing inhibitor. Gradient interpretation could be altered by adding feedback loops or morphogen cascades to receiver cell response circuits. Orthogonal cell-cell communication systems provide insight into morphogen evolution and a platform for engineering tissues.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.8
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available