Sonicell project introduces rapid cellular response to a combination of external stimuli like light, ultrasound or small molecules. Our system incorporates a module for the enhanced sensitivity to ultrasound or other mechanical stimuli sensed by a calcium-dependent reporter. Furthermore we designed a module that can combine several input signals in a novel signaling pathway/logic professing based on the collection of (split) orthogonal proteases. Those proteases can also cleave the endoplasmic reticulum retention peptide segment, which results in a rapid secretion of proteins or peptides.

Our BioBrick submission, which this year consists of 52 parts, therefore represents a collection that covers the broad range the aforementioned tasks aimed to function in mammalian cells, however many should also function in other types of a chassis. The parts can be divided into 4 collections based on their function:

• the collection of mechano- and ultrasound-sensing parts,
• the collection of orthogonal split and whole proteases with their reporters,
• the collection of parts for logic functions and
• the collection of parts for protease-triggered protein secretion.