Noise and low-level dynamics can coordinate multicomponent bet hedging mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: To counter future uncertainty, cells can stochastically express stress response mechanisms to diversify their population and hedge against stress. This approach allows a small subset of the population to survive without the prohibitive cost of constantly expressing resistance machinery at the population level. However, expression of multiple genes in concert is often needed to ensure survival, requiring coordination of infrequent events across many downstream targets. This raises the question of how cells orchestrate the timing of multiple rare events without adding cost. To investigate this, we used a stochastic model to study regulation of downstream target genes by a transcription factor. We compared several upstream regulator profiles, including constant expression, pulsatile dynamics,

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Bernardo J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4286610 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature