Fig. 3.
Interactive genetic circuits. (A) Schematic illustration of a living device that contains two cell strains: the transmitters (aTcRCV/AHL strain) produce AHL in the presence of aTc, and the receivers (AHLRCV/GFP strain) express GFP in the presence of AHL. The transmitters could communicate with the receivers via diffusion of the AHL signaling molecules through the hydrogel window, although the cells are physically isolated by elastomer. (B) Quantification of normalized fluorescence over time (n = 3 repeats). All data were measured by flow cytometry, with cells retrieved from the device at different times. (C) Images of device and microscopic images of cell chambers 6 h after addition of aTc into the environment surrounding the device. The side chambers contain transmitters, whereas the middle one contains receivers. (D) Images of device and microscopic images of cell chambers 6 h after aTc addition in the environment. The side chambers contain aTcRCV/GFP instead of transmitters, whereas the middle one contains receivers. Scale bars are shown in images.