Study of spatial signal transduction in bistable switches

Abstract

Bistable switch modules are among the most important fundamental motifs in signal-transduction pathways. To better understand their spatial signal transduction, we model the diffusion process in the one-dimensional (1–D) domain. We find that when none of the elements diffuse, the response of the system exhibits a spatial switch–like property. However, when one of the elements is highly diffusible, the response of the system does not show any spatial switching behavior. Furthermore, we observe that the spatial responses of the system are more sensitive to the time constant of the switch when none of the elements are diffusible. Further, a slow loop keeps the system in the high steady state more positions than that in the fast loop. Finally, we consolidate our numerical results analytically by performing a mathematical method.

Keywords

signal processing / reaction–diffusion model / nonlinear dynamics / spatial switch

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2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg