Open AccessA Regulated Double-Negative Feedback Decodes the Temporal Gradient of Input Stimulation in a Cell Signaling Network
Author(s) -
Sang Min Park,
Sung-Young Shin,
Kwang Hyun Cho
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0162153
Subject(s) - decodes , stimulation , negative feedback , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , biology , cell signaling , network motif , cell , neuroscience , computer science , biophysics , bioinformatics , physics , biochemistry , biological network , telecommunications , decoding methods , quantum mechanics , voltage
Revealing the hidden mechanism of how cells sense and react to environmental signals has been a central question in cell biology. We focused on the rate of increase of stimulation, or temporal gradient, known to cause different responses of cells. We have investigated all possible three-node enzymatic networks and identified a network motif that robustly generates a transient or sustained response by acute or gradual stimulation, respectively. We also found that a regulated double-negative feedback within the motif is essential for the temporal gradient-sensitive switching. Our analysis highlights the essential structure and mechanism enabling cells to properly respond to dynamic environmental changes.