Fig. 1: Architectures for engineered intercellular communication.
From: Addressable and adaptable intercellular communication via DNA messaging
a Small molecule actuated (SMA) communication systems exhibit message-channel coupling, meaning that the behavior they induce in the receiver cell is hard-coded into the molecular identity of the signaling molecule itself. This molecular identity cannot be changed without disrupting the functioning of the channel itself. b DNA communication systems exhibit message-channel decoupling, meaning that a given channel can transmit multiple types of messages to induce any genetically-encodable response in the receiver cell. Furthermore, the cells themselves can express molecular DNA editors to change the content of the messages in situ, closing the loop to enable autonomous system reconfiguration.
