title: Stochastic model of coliphage lambda regulatory network.
abstract: The dynamic properties of the regulatory network governing the choice between lytic and lysogenic growths of coliphage lambda is studied using a Markov chain stochastic model. Our computer simulation confirms the finding by Li et al. [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101, 4781 (2004)] on the dynamics of budding yeast: that the biological stationary states are global attractors; the biological pathways of lytic and lysogenic growths are attracting trajectories; and the network functions are robustly designed against structural perturbations. In addition, our model shows the stochastic switch from lysogen to lytic growth, which has been observed in experiments. A definition of pseudoenergy is introduced in the network dynamics to reveal a transitionlike behavior in the system.
authors.affiliation: Center for Theoretical Biology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
authors.forename: Siyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ouyang
mesh_terms: D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins