title: Reconfigurable hybrid interface for molecular marker diagnostics and in-situ reporting.
abstract: Combinations of molecular signals such as transcription factors and microRNAs in cells are a reliable indicator of multi-gene disorders. A system capable of detecting these conditions in-situ may be used as a tool for diagnosis and monitoring of disease. Here, we engineer genetic circuits that sense endogenous levels of the androgen receptor (AR), the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and the microRNA hsa-miR-21 (miR-21) in cervical cancer cells (HeLa). Furthermore, using the mediator molecule human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), we interface the intracellular information to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test strips. We demonstrate that this hybrid genetic circuit and test-strip interface can accommodate combinatorial, low-cost, and in-situ reporting, a versatile profiling tool.
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Department, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; Center for Systems Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ehrhardt
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Department, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; Center for Systems Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Guinn
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Department, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; Center for Systems Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA.
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Quarton
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Department, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; Center for Systems Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; Biological Sciences Department, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA.
authors.forename: Michael Q
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Department, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; Electrical Engineering Department, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; Center for Systems Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA. Electronic address: bleris@utdallas.edu.
authors.forename: Leonidas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bleris
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks / Q000235:genetics*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D011934:Reagent Strips; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011934:Reagent Strips; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Diagnostics; Hybrid sensors; MicroRNAs; Profiling.; Synthetic biology