Research
Morphogen-defined patterning of Escherichia coli enabled by an externally tunable band-pass filter
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* Corresponding author: Marc Ostermeier oster@jhu.edu
1 Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21212, USA
2 Present address: Central R&D Laboratories, ASAHI KASEI Corporation, 2-1, Samejima, Fuji, Shizuoka 416-8501, Japan
Journal of Biological Engineering 2009, 3:10 doi:10.1186/1754-1611-3-10
Published: 8 July 2009Abstract
Background
Gradients of morphogens pattern cell fate – a phenomenon that is especially important during development. A simple model system for studying how morphogens pattern cell behavior would overcome difficulties inherent in the study of natural morphogens in vivo. A synthetic biology approach to building such a system is attractive.
Results
Using an externally-tunable band-pass filter paradigm, we engineered Escherichia coli cells to function as a model system for the study of how multiple morphogens can pattern cell behavior. We demonstrate how our system exhibits behavior such as morphogen crosstalk and how the cells' growth and fluorescence can be patterned in a number of complex patterns. We extend our cell patterning from 2D cultures on the surface of plates to 3D cultures in soft agarose medium.
Conclusion
Our system offers a convenient, well-defined model system for fundamental studies on how multiple morphogen gradients can affect cell fate and lead to pattern formation. Our design principles could be applied to eukaryotic cells to develop other models systems for studying development or for enabling the patterning of cells for applications such as tissue engineering and biomaterials.