DEVELOPMENT OF SYNTHETIC GENE CIRCUITS FOR CONTROLLED GENE EXPRESSION IN BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

Abstract

Strict regulation of gene expression is one of the key conditions to comprehend cellular behaviour and develop biological systems to be used in higher-level applications. Complex networks in nature have controlled gene regulation and are not predictable or as flexible as is required to implement specific interventions. Synthetic gene circuits have been discovered as a ground breaking solution such that gene expression in living cells can be programmed and tuned to be dynamic. These AI circuits consist of engineered circuits which combine modular genetic elements, such as promoters, transcription factors, repressors, and regulatory RNAs, to make engineered biological systems with characterized input-output relationships. This review gives a range of understanding on how synthetic gene circuits were developed with particular design principles (modularity, robustness, and scalability). The different circuit architectures including the use of toggle switches, oscillatory networks as well as logic based systems are addressed in the context of attaining a specific regulatory control. Besides that, current developments in implementation technologies, especially those which use CRISPR/Cas-based systems and computational modelling frameworks are mentioned to play a role in improving the performance and predictability of circuits. Widespread uses of synthetic gene circuits in biomedical engineering, industrial biotechnology as well as environmental monitoring are also discussed. Even with the significant improvements that have been noticed, issues related to the instability of the genetic, the burden of cells, and the stochastic expression of genes remain a significant concern. Such areas of future research as the enhancement of the reliability of the circuit under investigation, its adaptive control and its integration with the new technologies are debated very seriously.