title: Robustness and compensation of information transmission of signaling pathways.
abstract: Robust transmission of information despite the presence of variation is a fundamental problem in cellular functions. However, the capability and characteristics of information transmission in signaling pathways remain poorly understood. We describe robustness and compensation of information transmission of signaling pathways at the cell population level. We calculated the mutual information transmitted through signaling pathways for the growth factor-mediated gene expression. Growth factors appeared to carry only information sufficient for a binary decision. Information transmission was generally more robust than average signal intensity despite pharmacological perturbations, and compensation of information transmission occurred. Information transmission to the biological output of neurite extension appeared robust. Cells may use information entropy as information so that messages can be robustly transmitted despite variation in molecular activities among individual cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uda
authors.forename: Takeshi H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Takamasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Toshiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kokaji
authors.forename: Takaho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komori
authors.forename: Yu-ichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuroda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007257:Information Theory; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016716:PC12 Cells; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos