Research

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Synthetic Biology underpins advances in the bioeconomy

Biological systems - including the simplest cells - exhibit a broad range of functions to thrive in their environment. Research in the Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology is focused on the possibility of engineering the underlying biochemical processes to solve many of the challenges facing society, from healthcare to sustainable energy. In particular, we model, analyse, design and build biological and biochemical systems in living cells and/or in cell extracts, both exploring and enhancing the engineering potential of biology. 

As part of our research we develop novel methods to accelerate the celebrated Design-Build-Test-Learn synthetic biology cycle. As such research in the Centre for Synthetic Biology highly multi- and interdisciplinary covering computational modelling and machine learning approaches; automated platform development and genetic circuit engineering ; multi-cellular and multi-organismal interactions, including gene drive and genome engineering; metabolic engineering; in vitro/cell-free synthetic biology; engineered phages and directed evolution; and biomimetics, biomaterials and biological engineering.

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Tica:2020:10.1049/enb.2020.0009,
author = {Tica, J and Zhu, T and Isalan, M},
doi = {10.1049/enb.2020.0009},
journal = {Engineering Biology},
pages = {25--31},
title = {Dynamical model fitting to a synthetic positive feedback circuit in E. coli},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1049/enb.2020.0009},
volume = {4},
year = {2020}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Applying the principles of engineering to Synthetic Biology relies on the development of robust and modular genetic components, as well as underlying quantitative dynamical models that closely predict their behaviour. This study looks at a simple positive feedback circuit built by placing filamentous phage secretin pIV under a phage shock promoter. A single-equation ordinary differential equation model is developed to closely replicate the behaviour of the circuit, and its response to inhibition by TetR. A stepwise approach is employed to fit the model's parameters to time-series data for the circuit. This approach allows the dissection of the role of different parameters and leads to the identification of dependencies and redundancies between parameters. The developed genetic circuit and associated model may be used as a building block for larger circuits with more complex dynamics, which require tight quantitative control or tuning.
AU  - Tica,J
AU  - Zhu,T
AU  - Isalan,M
DO  - 10.1049/enb.2020.0009
EP  - 31
PY  - 2020///
SN  - 2398-6182
SP  - 25
TI  - Dynamical model fitting to a synthetic positive feedback circuit in E. coli
T2  - Engineering Biology
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1049/enb.2020.0009
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/80670
VL  - 4
ER  -
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