Stability analysis in spatial modeling of cell signaling

Journal article : Review

Advances in high‐resolution microscopy and other techniques have emphasized the spatio‐temporal nature of information transfer through signal transduction pathways. The compartmentalization of signaling molecules and the existence of microdomains are now widely acknowledged as key features in biochemical signaling. To complement experimental observations of spatio‐temporal dynamics, mathematical modeling has emerged as a powerful tool. Using modeling, one can not only recapitulate experimentally observed dynamics of signaling molecules, but also gain an understanding of the underlying mechanisms in order to generate experimentally testable predictions. Reaction–diffusion systems are commonly used to this end; however, the analysis of coupled nonlinear systems of partial differential equations, generated by considering large reaction networks is often challenging. Here, we aim to provide an introductory tutorial for the application of reaction–diffusion models to the spatio‐temporal dynamics of signaling pathways. In particular, we outline the steps for stability analysis of such models, with a focus on biochemical signal transduction.

Authors: Getz, MC; Nirody, JA; Rangamani, P

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Systems Biology and Medicine
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 1
• Article number: e1395
• Publication date: 2017-08-08
• Acceptance date: 2017-06-11
• DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1395
• EISSN: 1939-005X
• ISSN: 1939-5094
• Pmid: 28787545
• Language: English
• Keywords: FFR
• Subtype: Review