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arXiv · 1511.00268

High-throughput and long-term observation of compartmentalized biochemical oscillators

Koshi Hasatani·Mathieu Leocmach·Anthony J. Genot·André Estévez-Torres·Teruo Fujii·Yannick Rondelez
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Abstract

We report the splitting of an oscillating DNA circuit into $\sim 700$ droplets with picoliter volumes. Upon incubation at constant temperature, the droplets display sustained oscillations that can be observed for more than a day. Superimposed to the bulk behaviour, we find two intriguing new phenomena - slow desynchronization between the compartments and kinematic spatial waves - and investigate their possible origin. This approach provides a route to study the influence of small volume effects in biology, and paves the way to technological applications of compartmentalized molecular programs controlling complex dynamics.

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Koshi Hasatani, Mathieu Leocmach, Anthony J. Genot, André Estévez-Torres, Teruo Fujii, Yannick Rondelez. 2015-11-04. High-throughput and long-term observation of compartmentalized biochemical oscillators. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3cc44323j

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