title: Linear population allocation by bistable switches in response to transient stimulation.
abstract: Many cellular decision processes, including proliferation, differentiation, and phenotypic switching, are controlled by bistable signaling networks. In response to transient or intermediate input signals, these networks allocate a population fraction to each of two distinct states (e.g. OFF and ON). While extensive studies have been carried out to analyze various bistable networks, they are primarily focused on responses of bistable networks to sustained input signals. In this work, we investigate the response characteristics of bistable networks to transient signals, using both theoretical analysis and numerical simulation. We find that bistable systems exhibit a common property: for input signals with short durations, the fraction of switching cells increases linearly with the signal duration, allowing the population to integrate transient signals to tune its response. We propose that this allocation algorithm can be an optimal response strategy for certain cellular decisions in which excessive switching results in lower population fitness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jaydeep K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Srimani
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America.
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanouchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Tae Jun
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Lingchong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: You
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D008954:Models, Biological; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction