From qualitative data to quantitative models: analysis of the phage shock protein stress response in Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Bacteria have evolved a rich set of mechanisms for sensing and adapting to adverse conditions in their environment. These are crucial for their survival, which requires them to react to extracellular stresses such as heat shock, ethanol treatment or phage infection. Here we focus on studying the phage shock protein (Psp) stress response in Escherichia coli induced by a phage infection or other damage to the bacterial membrane. This system has not yet been theoretically modelled or analysed in silico.

Results

We develop a model of the Psp response system, and illustrate how such models can be constructed and analyzed in light of available sparse and qualitative information in order to generate novel biological hypotheses about their dynamical behaviour. We analyze

SUBMITTER: Toni T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3127791 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature