Spatial-Stochastic modelling of synthetic gene regulatory networks

Cicely K. Macnamara, Elaine I. Mitchell, Mark A. J. Chaplain (Lead / Corresponding author)

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    4 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Transcription factors are important molecules which control the levels of mRNA and proteins within cells by modulating the process of transcription (the mechanism by which mRNA is produced within cells) and hence translation (the mechanism by which proteins are produced within cells). Transcription factors are part of a wider family of molecular interaction networks known as gene regulatory networks (GRNs) which play an important role in key cellular processes such as cell division and apoptosis (e.g. the p53-Mdm2, NFκB pathways). Transcription factors exert control over molecular levels through feedback mechanisms, with proteins binding to gene sites in the nucleus and either up-regulating or down-regulating production of mRNA. In many GRNs, there is a negative feedback in the network and the transcription rate is reduced. Typically, this leads to the mRNA and protein levels oscillating over time and also spatially between the nucleus and cytoplasm. When experimental data for such systems is analysed, it is observed to be noisy and in many cases the actual numbers of molecules involved are quite low. In order to model such systems accurately and connect with the data in a quantitative way, it is therefore necessary to adopt a stochastic approach as well as take into account the spatial aspect of the problem. In this paper, we extend previous work in the area by formulating and analysing stochastic spatio-temporal models of synthetic GRNs e.g. repressilators and activator-repressor systems.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)27-44
    Number of pages18
    JournalJournal of Theoretical Biology
    Volume468
    Early online date10 Feb 2019
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 7 May 2019

    Keywords

    • Activator-repressor systems
    • Repressilators
    • Spatial-stochastic modelling
    • Synthetic gene regulatory networks

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Statistics and Probability
    • Modelling and Simulation
    • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
    • General Immunology and Microbiology
    • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
    • Applied Mathematics

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