Post-translational tools expand the scope of synthetic biology

Synthetic biology is improving our understanding of and ability to control living organisms. To date, most progress has been made by engineering gene expression. However, computational and genetically encoded tools that allow protein activity and protein–protein interactions to be controlled on their natural time and length scales are emerging. These technologies provide a basis for the construction of post-translational circuits, which are capable of fast, robust and highly spatially resolved signal processing. When combined with their transcriptional and translational counterparts, synthetic post-translational circuits will allow better analysis and control of otherwise intractable biological processes such as cellular differentiation and the growth of tissues.

► Phytochromes and LOV domains are being used for spatiotemporal control of protein activity in cells.
► Computational redesign of CDC42/ISTN interface generates orthogonal signaling pathway.
► Computation-guided design of 180 pmKd PPI paves way for the design of modular protein networks.
► Stem cell differentiation can be controlled with synthetic transcriptional and post-translational networks.