"Engineering Stability in Gene Networks by Autoregulation".
Attila Becskei and Luis Serrano
Structures and Biocomputing, EMBL, Meyerhofstrasse 1, Heidelberg D-69012, Germany
Abstract:
The genetic and biochemical networks which underlie such things as homeostasis in metabolism and the developmental programs of living cells, must withstand considerable variations and random perturbations of biochemical parameters. These occur as transient changes in, for example, transcription, translation, and RNA and protein degradation. The intensity and duration of these perturbations differ between cells in a population. The unique state of cells, and thus the diversity in a population, is owing to the different environmental stimuli the individual cells experience and the inherent stochastic nature of biochemical processes. It has been proposed, but not demonstrated, that autoregulatory, negative feedback loops in gene circuits provide stability, thereby limiting the range over which the concentrations of network components fluctuate. Here we have designed and constructed simple gene circuits consisting of a regulator and transcriptional repressor modules in Escherichia coli and we show the gain of stability produced by negative feedback.
Additional Gene Feedback References:
Herstein PR, and Frenster JH, "Mated Models of Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes".
Frenster JH, and Herstein PR, "Gene De-Repression".
Frenster JH, "Selective Control of DNA Helix Openings during Gene Regulation".
Frenster JH, "Oncogenes as Molecular Targets within Active Chromatin".