BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Synthetic Spatial Patterning Using Two-Channel Quorum-Sensing Sign
 alling - Paul Grant (Haseloff Group)
DTSTART:20140131T130000Z
DTEND:20140131T132500Z
UID:TALK49500@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Yoan Coudert
DESCRIPTION:The development of a multicellular organism can be thought of 
 as a series of hierarchical patterning events\, dividing groups of cells i
 nto nested domains that give rise to tissues\, organs\, and specialized ce
 ll types.  By building gene regulatory circuits that are capable of patter
 ning populations of microbes\, we can investigate the minimal genetic arch
 itecture required for this most basic developmental process and build synt
 hetic developmental systems that can be used as a platform for future engi
 neering.  A requirement for circuits built according to the patterning mod
 el proposed by Alan Turing in 1952 (and a generally useful addition to the
  genetic toolkit) is the use of two independent diffusible signals.  We ha
 ve engineered promoters for use in E. coli that minimize crosstalk between
  two exogenous quorum-sensing signaling systems and used those promoters t
 o parameterize a model of signaling within the two pathways present in the
  same cell.  By using this two-channel signaling system we were able to bu
 ild a genetic regulatory circuit in which cells sending and receiving eith
 er signal repress the ability to send and receive the other signal\, resul
 ting in bistability on the population level—that is\, cells come to a co
 llective decision about which signaling state they are in.  This leads to 
 the formation of spatial domains of gene expression both at the level of c
 olonies\, and in larger populations.
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR