Oscillations and temporal signalling in cells.
The development of new techniques to quantitatively measure gene expression in cells has shed light on a number of systems that display oscillations in protein concentration. Here we review the different mechanisms which can produce oscillations in gene expression or protein concentration using a framework of simple mathematical models. We focus on three eukaryotic genetic regulatory networks which show 'ultradian' oscillations, with a time period of the order of hours, and involve, respectively, proteins important for development (Hes1), apoptosis (p53) and immune response (NF-kappaB). We argue that underlying all three is a common design consisting of a negative feedback loop with time delay which is responsible for the oscillatory behaviour.
Tiana
G
G
Department of Physics, University of Milano and INFN, Milano, Italy.
Krishna
S
S
Pigolotti
S
S
Jensen
M H
MH
Sneppen
K
K
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods*; D003585:Cell Biology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009991:Oscillometry; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D049490:Systems Biology; D013997:Time Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011506:Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C498179:HELT protein, human; C495901:TP53 protein, human