Modern digital networks are enabled by the communication of transmitters and receivers about objects and events in localized environments. The information transferred is measured by the ability of the users of the network to make decisions they could not otherwise. This dynamic exchange of information, sometimes referred to as the “internet-of-things”, has revolutionized various aspects of society such as travel or financial transactions, but has largely been unable to integrate biological information. We have attempted to remedy this discrepancy by creating cellular network mimetics, such as “transmitters” and “receivers”, that are able to interconvert biological and electronic information. To send electronic information to biological networks, we designed cellular transmitters which respond to hydrogen peroxide generated by electrochemical reduction of oxygen at the surface of a gold electrode. These “transmitter” cells in turn produced AI-1, a bacterial quorum sensing molecule, to relay the information to a “receiver” population. Using this system, we were able to electrochemically regulate the gene expression of the receiver population to produce either GFP or the amino-acid tyrosine by stimulating the transmitter population with a voltage pulse. In order to electronically receive biological information, we designed a cellular population to cleave the redox silent substrate 4-aminophenyl galactopyranoside (PAPG) into the redox active molecule p-aminophenol (PAP) through expression of the β-galactosidase enzyme. We optimized this system by enhancing the cellular import of PAPG into the cytosol by the expression <i>lacY</i> to increase the number of PAPG importers. As a result, we were able to successfully measure the amount of AI-1 in the media based upon the PAP current produced by our sensor cell population. These two cell-based systems represent the creation of a cellular network, which will allow for regulated information exchange to guide cellular systems.

Expanding cellular communication with electronics through the design of cellular transmitters and receivers

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.