Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Department of Biological Engineering and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Department of Biological Engineering and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
J Mol Biol. 2016 Feb 27;428(5 Pt B):893-915. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2016.02.018. Epub 2016 Feb 22.
Genetic circuits, composed of complex networks of interacting molecular machines, enable living systems to sense their dynamic environments, perform computation on the inputs, and formulate appropriate outputs. By rewiring and expanding these circuits with novel parts and modules, synthetic biologists have adapted living systems into vibrant substrates for engineering. Diverse paradigms have emerged for designing, modeling, constructing, and characterizing such artificial genetic systems. In this paper, we first provide an overview of recent advances in the development of genetic parts and highlight key engineering approaches. We then review the assembly of these parts into synthetic circuits from the perspectives of digital and analog logic, systems biology, and metabolic engineering, three areas of particular theoretical and practical interest. Finally, we discuss notable challenges that the field of synthetic biology still faces in achieving reliable and predictable forward-engineering of artificial biological circuits.
遗传电路由相互作用的分子机器组成的复杂网络组成，使生命系统能够感知其动态环境，对输入进行计算，并制定适当的输出。通过用新的部件和模块重新布线和扩展这些电路，合成生物学家已经将生命系统改编为用于工程的充满活力的基质。已经出现了多种用于设计、建模、构建和表征这种人工遗传系统的范例。在本文中，我们首先概述了遗传部件开发方面的最新进展，并强调了关键的工程方法。然后，我们从数字和模拟逻辑、系统生物学和代谢工程三个特别具有理论和实践意义的角度，回顾了这些部件组装成合成电路的情况。最后，我们讨论了合成生物学领域在实现人工生物电路的可靠和可预测正向工程方面仍然面临的显著挑战。
