Importance

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Abstract

A “breadboard” approach by which a biochemical signaling process, pathway, or network under study is separated or segmented into interconnected smaller portions, at least one of which can to a degree of approximation be accurately emulated with a replica microscale and/or nanoscale fluidic implementation whose constituent species can be closely controlled and at least one aspect of whose behavior can be measured. Control and measurement information interfaces with a computer that executes algorithms comprising one or more of a control process, control event-script, experiment, data recording, and mathematical model. A model can be used to simulate the actions, behavior, or other aspects of another portion of the biochemical signaling process, pathway, or network. Replica constituents can include enzymes, other proteins, lipids, ions, peptides, and other materials provided under controlled conditions and timing, as well as varying degrees of competitive species, drugs, environmental influences, and substitute or representative molecular crowding.

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First Claim