Combining a toggle switch and a repressilator within the AC-DC circuit generates distinct dynamical behaviors
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Although the structure of a genetically encoded regulatory circuit is an important determinant of its function, the relationship between circuit topology and the dynamical behaviors it can exhibit is not well understood. Here, we explore the range of behaviors available to the AC-DC circuit. This circuit consists of three genes connected as a combination of a toggle switch and a repressilator. Using dynamical systems theory, we show that the AC-DC circuit exhibits both oscillations and bistability within the same region of parameter space; this generates emergent behaviors not available to either the toggle switch or the repressilator alone. The AC-DC circuit can switch on oscillations via two distinct mechanisms, one of which induces coherence into ensembles of oscillators. In addition, we show that in the presence of noise, the AC-DC circuit can behave as an excitable system capable of spatial signal propagation or coherence resonance. Together, these results demonstrate how combinations of simple motifs can exhibit multiple complex behaviors.
Date Issued
2018-04-25
Date Acceptance
2018-01-26
Citation
Cell Systems, 2018, 6 (4), pp.521-530.e3
ISSN
2405-4712
Publisher
Elsevier (Cell Press)
Start Page
521
End Page
530.e3
Journal / Book Title
Cell Systems
Volume
6
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
Grant Number
102944/Z/13/Z
102944/Z/13/Z
Subjects
coherence
coherence resonance
dynamical systems
excitable systems
gene regulatory networks
multifunctional circuits
multistability
oscillations
synthetic biology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-03-21