Multi-Stage Regulation, a Key to Reliable Adaptive Biochemical Pathways

A general “multi-stage” regulation model, based on linearly connected regulatory units, is formulated to demonstrate how biochemical pathways may achieve high levels of accuracy. The general mechanism, which is robust to changes in biochemical parameters, such as protein concentration and kinetic ra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biophysical journal 2001-12, Vol.81 (6), p.3016-3028
Main Authors: Almogy, Gal, Stone, Lewi, Ben-Tal, Nir
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteria
Bacterial Physiological Phenomena
Bacterial Proteins
Biochemistry
Chemotaxis - physiology
Escherichia coli - metabolism
Homeostasis
Kinetics
Membrane Proteins - chemistry
Membrane Proteins - physiology
Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins
Methylation
Models, Theoretical
Proteins
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Summary:A general “multi-stage” regulation model, based on linearly connected regulatory units, is formulated to demonstrate how biochemical pathways may achieve high levels of accuracy. The general mechanism, which is robust to changes in biochemical parameters, such as protein concentration and kinetic rate constants, is incorporated into a mathematical model of the bacterial chemotaxis network and provides a new framework for explaining regulation and adaptiveness in this extensively studied system. Although conventional theories suggest that methylation feedback pathways are responsible for chemotactic regulation, the model, which is deduced from known experimental data, indicates that protein interactions downstream of the bacterial receptor complex, such as CheAs and CheZ, may play a crucial and complementary role.
ISSN:0006-3495
1542-0086
DOI:10.1016/S0006-3495(01)75942-5