The Expansion of a Novel Cell-to-Cell Adhesion Toolbox in Escherichia Coli

Abstract

I seek to expand upon the existing body of work on synthetic multicellular systems. The current system uses pairs of nanobodies and antigens to create adhesion between cells. I seek to develop first a novel method for localizing synthetic adhesion proteins to the poles of an E. coli cell, leading to the potential formation of well-defined patterns. Next, I detail work in expanding the adhesion toolbox through homophilic adhesion proteins. Finally, I outline work in visualizing cell-to-cell contact between multicellular systems using split reporter fluorescent protein.