Boolean Threshold Networks: Virtues and Limitations for Biological Modeling

摘要: Boolean threshold networks have recently been proposed as useful tools to model the dynamics of genetic regulatory networks, and successfully applied describe cell cycles S. cerevisiae pombe. Threshold assume that gene regulation processes are additive. This, however, contrasts with mechanism by Kauffman in which each logic functions must be carefully constructed accurately take into account combinatorial nature regulation. While extensively studied proved necessary properties required for modeling fundamental characteristics not much is known about essential networks. Here we study dynamical these different connectivities, activator-repressor proportions, strengths thresholds. Special attention paid way value affects regime network operates structure attractor landscape. We find only a very restricted set parameters, show consistent what observed biological systems. The virtues possible problems related restrictions discussed earlier work uses kind models.