New architecture for patterning gene expression using zinc finger proteins and small RNAs

In our search for a viable synthetic gene network that can spontaneously produce patterning, we previously identified a new class of networks that we call quenched oscillator systems. These systems consist of a primary feedback loop that serves as an oscillator and a secondary feedback loop that quenches the oscillations and incorporates a diffusible molecule. We demonstrated that quenched oscillator systems are capable of generating spatio-temporal patterning with appropriate parameter values. Here we take advantage of recent work with zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) and small RNAs (sRNAs) to propose a new implementation using a new oscillator subsystem and a modified quenching loop.