Stochastic activation and bistability in a Rab GTPase regulatory network.

ABSTRACT: The eukaryotic endomembrane system is controlled by small GTPases of the Rab family, which are activated at defined times and locations in a switch-like manner. While this switch is well understood for an individual protein, how regulatory networks produce intracellular activity patterns is currently not known. Here, we combine in vitro reconstitution experiments with computational modeling to study a minimal Rab5 activation network. We find that the molecular interactions in this system give rise to a positive feedback and bistable collective switching of Rab5. Furthermore, we find that switching near the critical point is intrinsically stochastic and provide evidence that controlling the inactive population of Rab5 on the membrane can shape the network response. Notably, we demonstrate t

SUBMITTER: Bezeljak U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7104049 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature