Enabling neighbour labelling: using synthetic biology to explore how cells influence their neighbours

Abstract

Cell-cell interactions are central to development, but exploring how a change in any given cell relates to changes in the neighbour of that cell can be technically challenging. Here, we review recent developments in synthetic biology and image analysis that are helping overcome this problem. We highlight the opportunities presented by these advances and discuss opportunities and limitations in applying them to developmental model systems.

Keywords: Cell-cell interactions; Image analysis; Neighbour labelling; SynNotch; Synthetic signalling.