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Design patterns of biological cells

Journal Article · · BioEssays
 [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)

Design patterns are generalized solutions to frequently recurring problems. They were initially developed by architects and computer scientists to create a higher level of abstraction for their designs. Here, we extend these concepts to cell biology to lend a new perspective on the evolved designs of cells' underlying reaction networks. We present a catalog of 21 design patterns divided into three categories: creational patterns describe processes that build the cell, structural patterns describe the layouts of reaction networks, and behavioral patterns describe reaction network function. Applying this pattern language to the E. coli central metabolic reaction network, the yeast pheromone response signaling network, and other examples lends new insights into these systems.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830; U01CA227544
OSTI ID:
2376130
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-193524
Journal Information:
BioEssays, Vol. 46, Issue 3; ISSN 0265-9247
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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