Improving the speed of the genetic toggle switch without sacrificing its dynamic stability.
Determinants of the switching speed of the genetic toggle switch remain unknown. Analysis shows that the decay rate of proteins predominantly sets the speed limit, but its modification introduces a trade-off between increased speed and decreased bistability. Incorporating protein-modifying enzymes into the switch gives extra degrees of freedom to address this trade-off. The condition for bistability when such enzymes are incorporated is derived. Under this condition, speed increases with the maximal rate of gene expression.
Chen
Jiunn R
JR
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. jrchen@fas.harvard.edu
D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D042822:Genomic Instability / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
D011506:Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins