title: Self-perpetuating states in signal transduction: positive feedback, double-negative feedback and bistability.
abstract: Cell signaling systems that contain positive-feedback loops or double-negative feedback loops can, in principle, convert graded inputs into switch-like, irreversible responses. Systems of this sort are termed "bistable". Recently, several groups have engineered artificial bistable systems into Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and have shown that the systems exhibit interesting and potentially useful properties. In addition, two naturally occurring signaling systems, the p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Jun amino-terminal kinase pathways in Xenopus oocytes, have been shown to exhibit bistable responses. Here we review the basic properties of bistable circuits, the requirements for construction of a satisfactory bistable switch, and the recent progress towards constructing and analysing bistable signaling systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology, CCSR, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5174, USA. james.ferrell@stanford.edu
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ferrell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D004926:Escherichia coli; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000072235:Mating Factor; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D015202:Protein Engineering; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D000072235:Mating Factor; D016203:CDC2 Protein Kinase; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases