Robustness in simple biochemical networks.
Cells use complex networks of interacting molecular components to transfer and process information. These "computational devices of living cells" are responsible for many important cellular processes, including cell-cycle regulation and signal transduction. Here we address the issue of the sensitivity of the networks to variations in their biochemical parameters. We propose a mechanism for robust adaptation in simple signal transduction networks. We show that this mechanism applies in particular to bacterial chemotaxis. This is demonstrated within a quantitative model which explains, in a unified way, many aspects of chemotaxis, including proper responses to chemical gradients. The adaptation property is a consequence of the network's connectivity and does not require the 'fine-tuning' of parameters. We argue that the key properties of biochemical networks should be robust in order to ensure their proper functioning.
Barkai
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Department of Physics, Princeton University, New Jersey 08544, USA.
Leibler
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S
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000502:physiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D007700:Kinetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D000072236:Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins; D008954:Models, Biological; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C489103:CheW protein, E coli; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000072236:Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C051236:CheW protein, Bacteria