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arXiv · 1202.1447

Reliability of frequency- and amplitude-decoding in gene regulation

Filipe Tostevin·Wiet de Ronde·Pieter Rein ten Wolde
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Abstract

In biochemical signaling, information is often encoded in oscillatory signals. However, the advantages of such a coding strategy over an amplitude encoding scheme of constant signals remain unclear. Here we study the dynamics of a simple model gene promoter in response to oscillating and constant transcription factor signals. We find that in biologically-relevant parameter regimes an oscillating input can produce a more constant protein level than a constant input. Our results suggest that oscillating signals may be used to minimize noise in gene regulation.

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Filipe Tostevin, Wiet de Ronde, Pieter Rein ten Wolde. 2012-02-07. Reliability of frequency- and amplitude-decoding in gene regulation. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.108.108104

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