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Playing with cellular functions and genetic circuits in real time
Gene expression plays a central role in the orchestration of cellular processes. In the past years, we have developed several methods to dynamically perturb, manipulate and control genetic circuit and cellular functions in yeast and bacteria using microfluidics and optogenetics. We developed an experimental method to achieve real time closed loop control of gene expression. This creates a dynamic interaction between cells and a computer, making it possible to precisely control the level of expression of a gene for both time-constant and time-varying target profiles, at the population level, and at the single-cell level. I will discuss this method, called cybergenetics, as well as recent examples showing how spatiotemporal perturbations, obtained thanks to optogenetics, can inform us quantitatively on the dynamics of cellular processes.