CRISPR-enabled genetic logic circuits for biosensing

Abstract

Synthetic biology aims to engineer genetic circuits for custom-designed behaviors in living systems, including sophisticated biosensing applications. The CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) system has gained attention for its potential in genetic circuit design due to its modularity, programmability, precision, and orthogonality. Here we highlight the current CRISPR-based tools for gene regulation at both transcriptional and translational levels. We discuss how these CRISPR technologies facilitate the design and construction of complex genetic circuits that can perform customized logic computations within living systems. Furthermore, we summarize the applications of CRISPR-based genetic logic circuits in biosensing, emphasizing their potential for detecting diverse biological and environmental signals. Finally, we highlight the key challenges facing the development and application of CRISPR-enabled genetic logic circuits and propose directions for future research to overcome these bottlenecks.