title: Feedback loops in biological networks.
abstract: We introduce fundamental concepts for the design of dynamics and feedback in molecular networks modeled with ordinary differential equations. We use several examples, focusing in particular on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, to illustrate the concept that feedback loops are fundamental in determining the overall dynamic behavior of a system. Often, these loops have a structural function and unequivocally define the system behavior. We conclude with numerical simulations highlighting the potential for bistability and oscillations of the MAPK pathway re-engineered through synthetic promoters and RNA transducers to include positive and negative feedback loops.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Riverside, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA, efranco@engr.ucr.edu.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Kate E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Galloway
mesh_terms: D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases