Spatial localization meets biomolecular networks
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Menon, Govind
Krishnan, Jawahar
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Spatial organization through localization/compartmentalization of species is a ubiquitous but poorly
understood feature of cellular biomolecular networks. Current technologies in systems and synthetic
biology (spatial proteomics, imaging, synthetic compartmentalization) necessitate a systematic
approach to elucidating the interplay of networks and spatial organization. We develop a systems
framework towards this end and focus on the effect of spatial localization of network components
revealing its multiple facets: (i) As a key distinct regulator of network behaviour, and an enabler of new
network capabilities (ii) As a potent new regulator of pattern formation and self-organization (iii) As an
often hidden factor impacting inference of temporal networks from data (iv) As an engineering tool for
rewiring networks and network/circuit design. These insights, transparently arising from the most basic
considerations of networks and spatial organization, have broad relevance in natural and engineered
biology and in related areas such as cell-free systems, systems chemistry and bionanotechnology
understood feature of cellular biomolecular networks. Current technologies in systems and synthetic
biology (spatial proteomics, imaging, synthetic compartmentalization) necessitate a systematic
approach to elucidating the interplay of networks and spatial organization. We develop a systems
framework towards this end and focus on the effect of spatial localization of network components
revealing its multiple facets: (i) As a key distinct regulator of network behaviour, and an enabler of new
network capabilities (ii) As a potent new regulator of pattern formation and self-organization (iii) As an
often hidden factor impacting inference of temporal networks from data (iv) As an engineering tool for
rewiring networks and network/circuit design. These insights, transparently arising from the most basic
considerations of networks and spatial organization, have broad relevance in natural and engineered
biology and in related areas such as cell-free systems, systems chemistry and bionanotechnology
Date Issued
2021-09-09
Date Acceptance
2021-06-30
Citation
Nature Communications, 2021, 12, pp.1-21
ISSN
2041-1723
Publisher
Nature Research
Start Page
1
End Page
21
Journal / Book Title
Nature Communications
Volume
12
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2021. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-24760-y
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
5357
Date Publish Online
2021-09-09