Synchronized Cell Division

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=Intro=
 
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Cool things could be done if it is possible to synchronize cell devision in a population. When based on Quorum Sensing, one could achieve propagating concentric waves of currently dividing cells, possibly expressing GFP.
 
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=The "Concentric Devision" approach=
 
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==Basic Concept==
 
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A certain strain of bacteria tends to aggregate to clusters due to some aggregation factor they constitutively express. Cell devision is inhibited and individuals of can only start cell devision when a certain factor D in the environment reaches a threshold. This factor D would be produced by each cell constitutively, but in insufficient concentration. Thus, only when a sufficient local cluster density is reached (Quorum Sensing), the cells will suddenly start to multiply locally.
 
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While deviding (and only while deviding), the cells would also express GFP and some factor D- which will lead to the quick degradation/inhibition of D, so that only the region of currently deviding cells would be fluorescent, (hopefully) resulting in concentric waves propagating from the center to the outside.
 
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==Challenges==
 
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* Of course it is probably far from trivial to reliably inhibit cell devision. A suitable substance inducing cell devision has to be identified, which can controlled.
 
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* There needs to be a resting period after cell devision.
 
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* It is hard to say how far the rings would really propagate before fading out due to a lack of D, but in any case, the patterns should be concentric and periodic in some way.
 
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* GFP has to have a higher production and degradation speed then the devision cycle.
 
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==Possible Extensions==
 
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=Discussion=
 
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>> for comments, questions and temporary remarks go to the [[Talk:Synchronized_Cell_Division]]
 
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Back to [[ETH Zurich]] main page.
 

Latest revision as of 15:28, 5 August 2005

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