Optimality and thermodynamics determine the evolution of transcriptional regulatory networks.

ABSTRACT: Transcriptional motifs are small regulatory interaction patterns that regulate biological functions in highly-interacting cellular networks. Recently, attempts have been made to explain the significance of transcriptional motifs through dynamic function. However, fundamental questions remain unanswered. Why are certain transcriptional motifs with similar dynamic function abundant while others occur rarely? What are the criteria for topological generalization of these motifs into complex networks? Here, we present a novel paradigm that combines non-equilibrium thermodynamics with multiobjective-optimality for network analysis. We found that energetic cost, defined herein as specific dissipation energy, is minimal at the optimal environmental conditions and it correlates inversely with the a

SUBMITTER: Avila-Elchiver M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3964374 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature