Design of synthetic mammalian quorum-sensing systems

Methods Mol Biol. 2011:692:235-49. doi: 10.1007/978-1-60761-971-0_17.

Abstract

Synthetic quorum-sensing systems in mammalian cells has enabled the implementation of time- and distance-dependent bioprocesses, as well as the design of synthetic ecosystems emulating clinically important host-parasite interactions. In this chapter, we provide a detailed protocol of the design of a mammalian cell-to-cell signaling device and its integration into a mammalian quorum-sensing system for cell density-induced expression product genes. Cell-to-cell signaling is based on a sender cell, metabolically engineered for expression of alcohol dehydrogenase converting ethanol into acetaldehyde, and a receiver cell line for the dose-dependent translation of the acetaldehyde concentration into transgene expression by an acetaldehyde-responsive promoter. This protocol can be adapted easily to various cell types and transgenes for the design of versatile mammalian cell-based quorum-sensing systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Clone Cells
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Genetic Engineering / methods*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Quorum Sensing*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Alcohol Dehydrogenase