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

K. Hasatani , M. Leocmach , A.J. Genot , A. Estevez-Torres , T. Fujii , Y. Rondelez

Bibtex , URL
Chem. Commun., 49, 73
Published 01 Jan. 2013
DOI: 10.1039/c3cc44323j
ISSN: 1359-7345

Abstract

We report the splitting of an oscillating DNA circuit into similar to 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.