Synthetic Manipulation and Analyses of Transport and Cytoskeletal Regulatory Systems

Abstract

Intracellular transport occurs within a dynamic mechanical environment and is affected by a broad range of transport and cytoskeletal regulatory proteins. While abilities to characterize the mechanochemical properties of the motors that drive these processes and even the functions of their co-factors have advanced appreciably, resolving transport regulatory mechanisms within dynamic endogenous cytoskeletal networks and roles multi-faceted transport and cytoskeletal regulatory networks play in these mechanisms remains quite challenging. Here, we present a new approach for multiplexed live-cell analyses of intracellular transport and cytoskeletal regulatory processes. This approach centers on the use of novel synthetic biology techniques to facilitate robust regulation and visualization of multiple transport and cytoskeletal protein markers simultaneously within individual cells. The utility of this approach for a range of cytomechanical studies will be discussed.