Elisa Franco*
/in /by Grant Alkin
Email Address:
efranco@seas.ucla.edu
Office Phone Number:
(310) 206-4317
Website
Franco Lab
Office Address:
Eng IV 38-137P
My group is broadly interested in emergent dynamic behaviors in molecular systems, with applications in synthetic and systems biology, materials science, and dynamical systems. We use a constructive approach that combines mathematical modeling and experiments; we focus on nucleic acids as “”designable”” molecular components that we use to build systems of interest, including oscillatory circuits, responsive molecular assemblies, and feedback control networks. Currently active projects include: a) Programming dynamic self-assembly in DNA nanostructures; b) Design of RNA nanotubes with responsive behaviors; c) Design principles for molecular feedback circuits to achieve concentration homeostasis. We believe we could assist other groups at MBI in a) building mathematical models of gene networks that may help address questions or test/support hypotheses, especially if feedback mechanisms are present; and b) designing nucleic acid molecules for sensing and recruiting/organizing biological components, for regulation of gene expression, or for delivery of nanoparticles. Our wet lab has the capability of performing a variety of nucleic acids/protein biochemistry experiments, microscopy, and spectroscopy equipment.
A selected list of publications:
“The challenges of modeling and forecasting the spread of COVID-19”. AL Bertozzi, E Franco, G Mohler, MB Short, D Sledge. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117 (29), 16732-16738, 2020.
“Timing molecular motion and production with a synthetic transcriptional clock” E Franco, E Friedrichs, J Kim, R Jungmann, RM Murray, E Winfree, FC Simmel. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(40), E784-E793, 2011.
“Belief Consensus and Distributed Hypothesis Testing in Sensor Networks” R Olfati-Saber, E Franco, E Frazzoli and JS Shamma. Lecture Notes in Control and Information Sciences, Volume 331, pages 169 – 182, 2006.
“Diversity in the dynamical behaviour of a compartmentalized programmable biochemical oscillator” M Weitz, J Kim, K Kapsner, E Winfree, E Franco, FC Simmel. Nature chemistry 6 (4), 295-302, 2014.
“Cooperative Control of Discrete Time Agents with Delayed Information Exchange: a Receding–Horizon Approach” E Franco, T Parisini and MM Polycarpou. International Journal of Robust and Nonlinear Control, vol. 17, pages 982-1001, 2007.
“Autonomous dynamic control of DNA nanostructure self-assembly”. LN Green, HKK Subramanian, V Mardanlou, J Kim, RF Hariadi and E Franco, Nature chemistry, 2019.
