Non-equilibrium dynamics of gene expression and the Jarzynski equality

Johannes Berg

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.100.188101

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arXiv · 0712.0170

Non-equilibrium dynamics of gene expression and the Jarzynski equality

Johannes Berg

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Abstract

In order to express specific genes at the right time, the transcription of genes is regulated by the presence and absence of transcription factor molecules. With transcription factor concentrations undergoing constant changes, gene transcription takes place out of equilibrium. In this paper we discuss a simple mapping between dynamic models of gene expression and stochastic systems driven out of equilibrium. Using this mapping, results of nonequilibrium statistical mechanics such as the Jarzynski equality and the fluctuation theorem are demonstrated for gene expression dynamics. Applications of this approach include the determination of regulatory interactions between genes from experimental gene expression data.

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Johannes Berg. 2007-12-03. Non-equilibrium dynamics of gene expression and the Jarzynski equality. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.100.188101

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