title: Robustness analysis identifies the plausible model of the Bcl-2 apoptotic switch.
abstract: In this paper two competing models of the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) apoptotic switch were contrasted by mathematical modeling and robustness analysis. Since switch-like behaviors are required for models that attempt to explain the all-or-none decisions of apoptosis, ultrasensitivity was employed as a criterion for comparison. Our results successfully exhibit that the direct activation model operates more reliably to achieve a robust switch in cellular conditions. Moreover, by investigating the robustness of other important features of the Bcl-2 apoptotic switch (including low Bax basal activation, inhibitory role of anti-apoptotic proteins and insensitivity to small perturbations) the direct activation model was further supported. In all, we identified the direct activation model as a more plausible explanation for the Bcl-2 apoptotic switch.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Pingping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein