Chemical communication between cell-sized reaction compartments

The exchange of signals between information-processing agents is an important requirement for the coordination of their actions and may be utilized for the implementation of various “amorphous” computing schemes [1]. In biology, chemical interactions between cells are utilized, e.g., in differentiation and pattern formation, sensing and signaling. One of the most studied processes in bacteria is the “quorum sensing” phenomenon, in which bacteria exchange small diffusible genetic inducers and thus mutually influence their gene expression [2]. In this talk, we will discuss various implementations of synthetic chemical communication schemes between artificial cell-sized compartments, between bacteria, and also between bacteria and cell-free compartments [3–5]. In particular, we will discuss the production and detection of quorum sensing signals within emulsion droplets containing either genetically engineered bacteria or bacterial cell extract, and their utilization for simple computation and pattern formation processes.