Robust, Tunable Biological Oscillations from Interlinked Positive and Negative Feedback Loops

by: Tony Y Tsai, Yoon S Choi, Wenzhe Ma, Joseph R Pomerening, Chao Tang, James E Ferrell

Science, Vol. 321, No. 5885. (4 July 2008), pp. 126-129.

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Abstract

A simple negative feedback loop of interacting genes or proteins has the potential to generate sustained oscillations. However, many biological oscillators also have a positive feedback loop, raising the question of what advantages the extra loop imparts. Through computational studies, we show that it is generally difficult to adjust a negative feedback oscillator's frequency without compromising its amplitude, whereas with positive-plus-negative feedback, one can achieve a widely tunable frequency and near-constant amplitude. This tunability makes the latter design suitable for biological rhythms like heartbeats and cell cycles that need to provide a constant output over a range of frequencies. Positive-plus-negative oscillators also appear to be more robust and easier to evolve, rationalizing why they are found in contexts where an adjustable frequency is unimportant. 10.1126/science.1156951

@article{citeulike:2961448, abstract = {A simple negative feedback loop of interacting genes or proteins has the potential to generate sustained oscillations. However, many biological oscillators also have a positive feedback loop, raising the question of what advantages the extra loop imparts. Through computational studies, we show that it is generally difficult to adjust a negative feedback oscillator's frequency without compromising its amplitude, whereas with positive-plus-negative feedback, one can achieve a widely tunable frequency and near-constant amplitude. This tunability makes the latter design suitable for biological rhythms like heartbeats and cell cycles that need to provide a constant output over a range of frequencies. Positive-plus-negative oscillators also appear to be more robust and easier to evolve, rationalizing why they are found in contexts where an adjustable frequency is unimportant. 10.1126/science.1156951}, author = {Tsai, Tony Y. and Choi, Yoon S. and Ma, Wenzhe and Pomerening, Joseph R. and Tang, Chao and Ferrell, James E. }, citeulike-article-id = {2961448}, doi = {10.1126/science.1156951}, journal = {Science}, keywords = {networks, oscillations, synthetic\_biology}, month = {July}, number = {5885}, pages = {126--129}, posted-at = {2008-07-17 11:17:59}, priority = {2}, title = {Robust, Tunable Biological Oscillations from Interlinked Positive and Negative Feedback Loops}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1156951}, volume = {321}, year = {2008} }

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TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2961448 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2961448 TI - Robust, Tunable Biological Oscillations from Interlinked Positive and Negative Feedback Loops JF - Science VL - 321 IS - 5885 SP - 126 EP - 129 N2 - A simple negative feedback loop of interacting genes or proteins has the potential to generate sustained oscillations. However, many biological oscillators also have a positive feedback loop, raising the question of what advantages the extra loop imparts. Through computational studies, we show that it is generally difficult to adjust a negative feedback oscillator's frequency without compromising its amplitude, whereas with positive-plus-negative feedback, one can achieve a widely tunable frequency and near-constant amplitude. This tunability makes the latter design suitable for biological rhythms like heartbeats and cell cycles that need to provide a constant output over a range of frequencies. Positive-plus-negative oscillators also appear to be more robust and easier to evolve, rationalizing why they are found in contexts where an adjustable frequency is unimportant. 10.1126/science.1156951 KW - networks KW - oscillations KW - synthetic_biology AU - Tsai, Tony AU - Choi, Yoon AU - Ma, Wenzhe AU - Pomerening, Joseph AU - Tang, Chao AU - Ferrell, James PY - 2008/07/04/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1156951 ER -

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