Affiliation:
1. ETH Zurich Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering Klingelbergstrasse 48 CH-4056 Basel Switzerland
2. University of Basel Faculty of Science Klingelbergstrasse 48 CH-4056 Basel Switzerland
Abstract
AbstractSynthetic or natural small molecules have been extensively employed as trigger signals or inducers to regulate engineered gene circuits introduced into living cells in order to obtain desired outputs in a controlled and predictable manner. Here, we provide an overview of small molecules used to drive synthetic‐biology‐based gene circuits in mammalian cells, together with examples of applications at different levels of control, including regulation of DNA manipulation, RNA synthesis and editing, and protein synthesis, maturation, and trafficking. We also discuss the therapeutic potential of these small‐molecule‐responsive gene circuits, focusing on the advantages and disadvantages of using small molecules as triggers, the mechanisms involved, and the requirements for selecting suitable molecules, including efficiency, specificity, orthogonality, and safety. Finally, we explore potential future directions for translation of these devices to clinical medicine.
Subject
Organic Chemistry,Molecular Biology,Molecular Medicine,Biochemistry