Tanaka, Reiko (RIKEN), Okano, Hirouki (RIKEN), Kimura, Hidenori (RIKEN)

Mathematical Description of Gene Regulatory Units from Compound Control Viewpoint

Scheduled for presentation during the Mini-Symposium "Genomic Signals and Systems" (TuP10), Tuesday, July 25, 2006, 16:35−17:00, Room 103

17th International Symposium on Mathematical Theory of Networks and Systems, July 24-28, 2006, Kyoto, Japan

This information is tentative and subject to change. Compiled on April 25, 2024

Abstract

A unique and intrinsic characteristic of control in biological systems, compared to man-made control, is found in its simultaneous and effective administration of several appropriate regulations to perform a cell task in response to complex, and quite often, compound environmental changes. This characteristic mode of biological control is called compound control. Revealing the control mechanisms responsible for the cell's surprisingly well-organized functions should lead directly to a better understanding of how the cell adapts to extraordinarily changing environments and, more generally, of the design principles of cellular systems, a primary interest of recent molecular biology. This paper presents a unified mathematical framework for describing gene regulatory units, which should provide a unified view of different regulatory units and facilitate systematic comparison of different mathematical models proposed in various literature. The proposed framework is fairly compatible with the classic control theoretical framework, so it should serve as a connecting bridge between engineering control theory and biological control mechanisms.