Dynamical behaviour of biological regulatory networks—I. Biological role of feedback loops and practical use of the concept of the loop-characteristic state (original) (raw)
Abstract
In the field of biological regulation, models dictated by expreimental work are usually complex networks comprising intertwined feedback loops. In this paper the biological roles of individual positive loops (multistationarity, differentiation) and negative loops (homeostasis, with or without oscillations, buffering of gene dosage effect) are discussed. The relationship between feedback loops and steady states is then clarified, and the problem: “How can one conveniently disentangle complex networks?” is then considered. Initiated long ago, logical descriptions have been generalized from various viewpoints; these developments are briefly discussed. The recent concept of the loop-characteristic state, defined as the logical state located at the level of the thresholds involved in the loop, together with its application, are then presented. Biological applications are also discussed.
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- Laboratoire de Génétique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Rue des chevaux, no. 67, B-1640, Rhode Saint Genèse, Belgium
René Thomas & Denis Thieffry - Service de Chimie-Physique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bd du Triomphe, Campus Plaine CP 231, B-1050, Bruxelles, Belgium
Marcelle Kaufman
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- René Thomas
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Thomas, R., Thieffry, D. & Kaufman, M. Dynamical behaviour of biological regulatory networks—I. Biological role of feedback loops and practical use of the concept of the loop-characteristic state.Bltn Mathcal Biology 57, 247–276 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02460618
- Received: 13 June 1994
- Issue Date: March 1995
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02460618