Using noise to probe and characterize gene circuits

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2008 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0804829105· OSTI ID:949995

Cox, Chris D. ^[1]; McCollum, James M. ^[2]; Allen, Michael S. ^[1]; Dar, Roy D. ^[1]; Simpson, Michael L ^[3]

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1. University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK)
2. Miami University
3. ORNL

Stochastic fluctuations (or "noise") in the single-cell populations of molecular species are shaped by the structure and biokinetic rates of the underlying gene circuit. The structure of the noise is summarized by its autocorrelation function. In this paper, we introduce the noise regulatory vector as a generalized framework for making inferences concerning the structure and biokinetic rates of a gene circuit from its noise autocorrelation function. While most previous studies have focused primarily on the magnitude component of the noise (given by the zero-lag autocorrelation function), our approach also considers the correlation component, which encodes additional information concerning the circuit. Theoretical analyses and simulations of various gene circuits show that the noise regulatory vector is characteristic of the composition of the circuit. While a particular noise regulatory vector does not map uniquely to a single underlying circuit, it does suggest possible candidate circuits, while excluding others, thereby demonstrating the probative value of noise in gene circuit analysis.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 949995
• Journal Information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Journal Issue: 31 Vol. 105; ISSN PNASA6; ISSN 0027-8424
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
FLUCTUATIONS
GENES
PROBES
VECTORS