Author:

Keywords:

Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Biochemical Research Methods, Mathematical & Computational Biology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, SPINDLE ASSEMBLY CHECKPOINT, POSITIVE FEEDBACK, REACTION NETWORK, DIVISION CYCLE, TRIGGER WAVES, MITOTIC ENTRY, S PHASE, BISTABILITY, ULTRASENSITIVITY, NUCLEAR, Algorithms, Cell Compartmentation, Cell Cycle, Cell Nucleus, Computational Biology, Feedback, Physiological, Models, Biological, Proteins, Signal Transduction, C14/18/084#54689601, 01 Mathematical Sciences, 06 Biological Sciences, 08 Information and Computing Sciences, Bioinformatics

Abstract:

Bistability is a common mechanism to ensure robust and irreversible cell cycle transitions. Whenever biological parameters or external conditions change such that a threshold is crossed, the system abruptly switches between different cell cycle states. Experimental studies have uncovered mechanisms that can make the shape of the bistable response curve change dynamically in time. Here, we show how such a dynamically changing bistable switch can provide a cell with better control over the timing of cell cycle transitions. Moreover, cell cycle oscillations built on bistable switches are more robust when the bistability is modulated in time. Our results are not specific to cell cycle models and may apply to other bistable systems in which the bistable response curve is time-dependent.