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arXiv · 1205.6219

The Dynamics of Zeroth-Order Ultrasensitivity: A Critical Phenomenon in Cell Biology

Qingdao Huang·Hong Qian
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Abstract

It is well known since the pioneering work of Goldbeter and Koshland [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, vol. 78, pp. 6840-6844 (1981)] that cellular phosphorylation- dephosphorylation cycle (PdPC), catalyzed by kinase and phosphatase under saturated condition with zeroth order enzyme kinetics, exhibits ultrasensitivity, sharp transition. We analyse the dynamics aspects of the zeroth order PdPC kinetics and show a critical slowdown akin to the phase transition in condensed matter physics. We demonstrate that an extremely simple, though somewhat mathematically "singular" model is a faithful representation of the ultrasentivity phenomenon. The simplified mathematical model will be valuable, as a component, in developing complex cellular signaling network theory as well as having a pedagogic value.

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Qingdao Huang, Hong Qian. 2012-05-28. The Dynamics of Zeroth-Order Ultrasensitivity: A Critical Phenomenon in Cell Biology. https://doi.org/10.3934/dcdss.2011.4.1457

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