Cells perform myriad functions: biosynthesis, signaling, assembly,
movement and environmental sensing. To harness these capabilities,
cells must be integrated into synthetic devices.
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Carolyn Bertozzi, Department Head
The integration of biological components
into a synthetic device environment is a major frontier in the design of
microscale and nanoscale devices. Living cells possess many capabilities
that are desirable in a device context, as multi-enzyme metabolic conversions
are useful for environmental bioremediation, energy harvesting, and industrial
fermentation. They can also amplify and transduce signals in response to
detection of soluble analytes, and thereby could function in biosensing
devices. To achieve this, molecular control of the interface between the
biological molecule or cell and the surrounding material is paramount.
The majority of intercellular communication events occur between molecules
embedded in the plasma membrane. These molecules comprise a diverse collection
of receptors and ligands that serve to anchor the cell to appropriate
growth locations, receive communication from adjacent cells and soluble
signaling molecules, and send information regarding the polypeptide synthesis
occurring within. Through a variety of complex mechanisms, these molecules
serve to relay environmental information to the cell interior, ultimately
resulting in gene regulation and thus control of cellular behavior. In
order to establish connections between this communication system and inanimate
substrates, an intervening surface that can mimic these phenomena in a
controlled and dynamic fashion is likely to be required. A major emphasis
in the PBD Chemical Biology Department is the development of a common
molecular platform that can be used to interface living cells with synthetic
materials in an interactive manner and to study the response of cells
to their support material. These research will provide essential information
for the successful incorporation of cells into device structures.
