View source for Timing molecular motion and production with a synthetic transcriptional clock

{{HTDB paper
| authors = Elisa Franco, Eike Friedrichs, Jongmin Kim, Ralf Jungmann, Richard Murray, Erik Winfree, Friedrich C. Simmel
| title = Timing molecular motion and production with a synthetic transcriptional clock
| source = ''Proceedings of the National Academy of Science'' (PNAS),  108 (40) E784-E793
| year = 2011
| type = Journal paper
| funding = NSF MPP, ARO ICB
| url = http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2011/09/14/1100060108.full.pdf
| abstract = 
The realization of artificial biochemical reaction networks with unique functionality is one of the main challenges for the development of synthetic biology. Due to the reduced number of components, biochemical circuits constructed in vitro promise to be more amenable to systematic design and quantitative assessment than circuits embedded within living organisms. To make good on that promise, effective methods for composing subsystems into larger systems are needed. Here we used an artificial biochemical oscillator based on in vitro transcription and RNA degradation reactions to drive a variety of âloadâ processes such as the operation of a DNA-based nanomechanical device (âDNA tweezersâ) or the production of a functional RNA molecule (an aptamer for malachite green). We implemented several mechanisms for coupling the load processes to the oscillator circuit and compared them based on how much the load affected the frequency and amplitude of the core oscillator, and how much of the load was effectively driven. Based on heuristic insights and computational modeling, an âinsulator circuitâ was developed, which strongly reduced the detrimental influence of the load on the oscillator circuit. Understanding how to design effective insulation between biochemical subsystems will be critical for the synthesis of larger and more complex systems.
| flags = 
| tag = fra+11-pnas
| id = 2011r
}}