A technique for determining the signs of sensitivities of steady states in chemical reaction networks. Issue 6 (1st December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sontag, Eduardo D.
• Is Part Of: IET systems biology. Volume 8:Issue 6(2014)
• Page Start: 251
• Page End: 267
• Publication Date: 2014-12-01
• Subjects: chemical reactions -- biochemistry -- cellular biophysics -- algebra -- combinatorial mathematics -- stoichiometry; steady states -- chemical reaction networks -- parameter perturbations -- algebraic method -- combinatorial method -- stoichiometry -- intracellular signal transduction models; Systems biology -- Periodicals; Cell physiology -- Periodicals; Biological systems -- Mathematical models -- Periodicals; Genetics -- Mathematical models -- Periodicals; Computational biology -- Periodicals; 573
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-syb.2014.0025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-8849

Abstract

Abstract : This paper studies the direction of change of steady states to parameter perturbations in chemical reaction networks, and, in particular, to changes in conserved quantities. Theoretical considerations lead to the formulation of a computational procedure that provides a set of possible signs of such sensitivities. The procedure is purely algebraic and combinatorial, only using information on stoichiometry, and is independent of the values of kinetic constants. Three examples of important intracellular signal transduction models are worked out as an illustration. In these examples, the set of signs found is minimal, but there is no general guarantee that the set found will always be minimal in other examples. The paper also briefly discusses the relationship of the sign problem to the question of uniqueness of steady states in stoichiometry classes.