dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaStochastic Simulations of Genetic Switch Systems
| Authors | Adiel Loinger, Azi Lipshtat, Nathalie Q. Balaban, Ofer Biham |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | q-bio/0702003 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0702003 |
Abstract
Genetic switch systems with mutual repression of two transcription factors are studied using deterministic methods (rate equations) and stochastic methods (the master equation and Monte Carlo simulations). These systems exhibit bistability, namely two stable states such that spontaneous transitions between them are rare. Induced transitions may take place as a result of an external stimulus. We study several variants of the genetic switch and examine the effects of cooperative binding, exclusive binding, protein-protein interactions and degradation of bound repressors. We identify the range of parameters in which bistability takes place, enabling the system to function as a switch. Numerous studies have concluded that cooperative binding is a necessary condition for the emergence of bistability in these systems. We show that a suitable combination of network structure and stochastic effects gives rise to bistability even without cooperative binding. The average time between spontaneous transitions is evaluated as a function of the biological parameters.
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"abstract": "Genetic switch systems with mutual repression of two transcription factors\nare studied using deterministic methods (rate equations) and stochastic methods\n(the master equation and Monte Carlo simulations). These systems exhibit\nbistability, namely two stable states such that spontaneous transitions between\nthem are rare. Induced transitions may take place as a result of an external\nstimulus. We study several variants of the genetic switch and examine the\neffects of cooperative binding, exclusive binding, protein-protein interactions\nand degradation of bound repressors. We identify the range of parameters in\nwhich bistability takes place, enabling the system to function as a switch.\nNumerous studies have concluded that cooperative binding is a necessary\ncondition for the emergence of bistability in these systems. We show that a\nsuitable combination of network structure and stochastic effects gives rise to\nbistability even without cooperative binding. The average time between\nspontaneous transitions is evaluated as a function of the biological\nparameters.",
"arxiv_id": "q-bio/0702003",
"authors": [
"Adiel Loinger",
"Azi Lipshtat",
"Nathalie Q. Balaban",
"Ofer Biham"
],
"categories": [
"q-bio.MN"
],
"title": "Stochastic Simulations of Genetic Switch Systems",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0702003"
},
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