Team:Slovenia/ModelingMutualRepressorSwitch
From 2012.igem.org
Miha Jerala (Talk | contribs) |
|||
(8 intermediate revisions not shown) | |||
Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
<head> | <head> | ||
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge" /> | <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge" /> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <!-- back to top --> | ||
+ | <div style="position:fixed; bottom:45px; right:30px; width:100px; height:66px; background-color:transparent;"> | ||
+ | <a href="#topofthepage"> | ||
+ | <table style="background-color:transparent;" onclick="window.location = '#topofthepage'" class="invisible" style="height:100%;"> | ||
+ | <tr class="invisible" style="background-color:transparent;"> | ||
+ | <td class="invisible" style="background-color:transparent;" valign="center"> | ||
+ | <img width="100px" src ="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/1/14/Svn12_hp_btt.png"></img> | ||
+ | </td></tr></table> | ||
+ | </a> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
<style type="text/css"> | <style type="text/css"> | ||
Line 13: | Line 24: | ||
- | p {line-height:1.5em; margin:0 0 15px; text-align: | + | p {line-height:1.5em; margin:0 0 15px; text-align:justify;} |
h2 {font-size:1.8em; font-weight:400; margin:0 0 12px;} | h2 {font-size:1.8em; font-weight:400; margin:0 0 12px;} | ||
Line 201: | Line 212: | ||
#cssmenu ul li > ul li{display:block; list-style:inside none; padding:0; margin:0; position:relative;} | #cssmenu ul li > ul li{display:block; list-style:inside none; padding:0; margin:0; position:relative;} | ||
#cssmenu ul li > ul li a{ outline:none; display:block; position:relative; margin:0; padding:8px 20px; font:10pt Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#fff; text-decoration:none; text-shadow:1px 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0, 0.5); } | #cssmenu ul li > ul li a{ outline:none; display:block; position:relative; margin:0; padding:8px 20px; font:10pt Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#fff; text-decoration:none; text-shadow:1px 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0, 0.5); } | ||
+ | #cssmenu ul li > ul li a table tr td span{ outline:none; display:block; position:relative; margin:0; padding:0px 0px; font:10pt Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#fff; text-decoration:none; text-shadow:1px 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0, 0.5); } | ||
#cssmenu, #cssmenu > ul > li > ul > li a:hover | #cssmenu, #cssmenu > ul > li > ul > li a:hover | ||
{ background:#043A6B; | { background:#043A6B; | ||
Line 216: | Line 228: | ||
#cssmenu > ul > li > a:hover{background:#0C5DA5;} | #cssmenu > ul > li > a:hover{background:#0C5DA5;} | ||
/* end CSS navigation menu (blue) */ | /* end CSS navigation menu (blue) */ | ||
+ | |||
+ | /*new table start*/ | ||
+ | table.newtable {background-color:transparent;} | ||
+ | td.newtable, th.newtable {background-color:transparent;} | ||
+ | thead.newtable{ } | ||
+ | tbody .newtable{} | ||
+ | /*new table*/ | ||
Line 292: | Line 311: | ||
<body> | <body> | ||
+ | <a name="topofthepage" style="background-color:transparent;"></a> | ||
<div id="banner"> | <div id="banner"> | ||
- | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
Line 300: | Line 319: | ||
<!--<div id="container">--> | <!--<div id="container">--> | ||
<div id="mainmenu"> | <div id="mainmenu"> | ||
+ | |||
<!-- start main menu --> | <!-- start main menu --> | ||
Line 317: | Line 337: | ||
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TheSwitchDesignedTALregulators'><span>Designed TAL regulators</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TheSwitchDesignedTALregulators'><span>Designed TAL regulators</span></a></li> | ||
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TheSwitchMutualRepressorSwitch'><span>Mutual repressor switch</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TheSwitchMutualRepressorSwitch'><span>Mutual repressor switch</span></a></li> | ||
- | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TheSwitchPositiveFeedbackLoopSwitch'><span>Positive feedback loop switch</span></a></li> | + | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TheSwitchPositiveFeedbackLoopSwitch'><table onclick="window.location = 'https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TheSwitchPositiveFeedbackLoopSwitch';" class="newtable"><tr class="newtable"><td class="newtable"><span>Positive feedback loop switch</span></td><td class="newtable"><img style="margin-right:-15px;" width="25px" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/e/ee/Svn12_hp_new.png"></img></td></tr></table></a></li> |
+ | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TheSwitchControls'><table onclick="window.location = 'https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TheSwitchControls';" class="newtable"><tr class="newtable"><td class="newtable"><span>Controls</span></td><td class="newtable"><img style="margin-right:-81px;" width="25px" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/e/ee/Svn12_hp_new.png"></img></td></tr></table></a></li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</li> | </li> | ||
Line 325: | Line 346: | ||
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/SafetyMechanismsEscapeTag'><span>Escape tag</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/SafetyMechanismsEscapeTag'><span>Escape tag</span></a></li> | ||
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/SafetyMechanismsTermination'><span>Termination</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/SafetyMechanismsTermination'><span>Termination</span></a></li> | ||
- | + | <li><a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/SafetyMechanismsMicrocapsuleDegradation"><table onclick="window.location = 'https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/SafetyMechanismsMicrocapsuleDegradation';" class="newtable"><tr class="newtable"><td class="newtable"><span>Microcapsule degradation</span></td><td class="newtable"><img style="margin-right:-15px;" width="25px" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/e/ee/Svn12_hp_new.png"></img></td></tr></table></a></li> | |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</li> | </li> | ||
Line 333: | Line 354: | ||
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ImplementationHepatitisC'><span>Hepatitis C</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ImplementationHepatitisC'><span>Hepatitis C</span></a></li> | ||
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ImplementationIschaemicHeartDisease'><span>Ischaemic heart disease</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ImplementationIschaemicHeartDisease'><span>Ischaemic heart disease</span></a></li> | ||
+ | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ImplementationImpact'><table onclick="window.location = 'https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ImplementationImpact';" class="newtable"><tr class="newtable"><td class="newtable"><span>Impact</span></td><td class="newtable"><img style="margin-right:-86px;" width="25px" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/e/ee/Svn12_hp_new.png"></img></td></tr></table></a></li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
Line 340: | Line 362: | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/Modeling'><span>Overview</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/Modeling'><span>Overview</span></a></li> | ||
- | + | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ModelingPK'><table onclick="window.location = 'https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ModelingPK';" class="newtable"><tr class="newtable"><td class="newtable"><span>Pharmacokinetics</span></td><td class="newtable"><img style="margin-right:-15px;" width="25px" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/e/ee/Svn12_hp_new.png"></img></td></tr></table></a></li> | |
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ModelingMethods'><span>Modeling methods</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ModelingMethods'><span>Modeling methods</span></a></li> | ||
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ModelingMutualRepressorSwitch'><span>Mutual repressor switch</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ModelingMutualRepressorSwitch'><span>Mutual repressor switch</span></a></li> | ||
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ModelingPositiveFeedbackLoopSwitch'><span>Positive feedback loop switch</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ModelingPositiveFeedbackLoopSwitch'><span>Positive feedback loop switch</span></a></li> | ||
- | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ModelingQuantitativeModel'><span> | + | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ModelingQuantitativeModel'><table onclick="window.location = 'https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ModelingQuantitativeModel';" class="newtable"><tr class="newtable"><td class="newtable"><span>Experimental model</span></td><td class="newtable"><img style="margin-right:-15px;" width="25px" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/e/ee/Svn12_hp_new.png"></img></td></tr></table></a></li> |
- | + | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ModelingInteractiveSimulations'><table onclick="window.location = 'https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/ModelingInteractiveSimulations';" class="newtable"><tr class="newtable"><td class="newtable"><span>Interactive simulations</span></td><td class="newtable"><img style="margin-right:-15px;" width="25px" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/e/ee/Svn12_hp_new.png"></img></td></tr></table></a></li> | |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</li> | </li> | ||
Line 356: | Line 378: | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/Notebook'><span>Experimental methods</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/Notebook'><span>Experimental methods</span></a></li> | ||
- | + | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/NotebookLablog'><table onclick="window.location = 'https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/NotebookLablog';" class="newtable"><tr class="newtable"><td class="newtable"><span>Lablog</span></td><td class="newtable"><img style="margin-right:-90px;" width="25px" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/e/ee/Svn12_hp_new.png"></img></td></tr></table></a></li> | |
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/NotebookLabSafety'><span>Lab safety</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/NotebookLabSafety'><span>Lab safety</span></a></li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
Line 379: | Line 401: | ||
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/Team'><span>Team members</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/Team'><span>Team members</span></a></li> | ||
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TeamAttributions'><span>Attributions</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TeamAttributions'><span>Attributions</span></a></li> | ||
+ | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TeamCollaborations'><table onclick="window.location = 'https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TeamCollaborations';" class="newtable"><tr class="newtable"><td class="newtable"><span>Collaborations</span></td><td class="newtable"><img style="margin-right:-20px;" width="25px" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/e/ee/Svn12_hp_new.png"></img></td></tr></table></a></li> | ||
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TeamGallery'><span>Gallery</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TeamGallery'><span>Gallery</span></a></li> | ||
<li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TeamSponsors'><span>Sponsors</span></a></li> | <li><a href='https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TeamSponsors'><span>Sponsors</span></a></li> | ||
Line 386: | Line 409: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
<!-- end main menu --> | <!-- end main menu --> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
</div> <!-- end menu --> | </div> <!-- end menu --> | ||
<div id="main"> | <div id="main"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | <!-- dummy link na bannerju --> | ||
+ | <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Main_Page"> | ||
+ | <div id="dummy" style="background-color:transparent; position:absolute; left:870px; top:25px; width:115px; height:80px; z-index:100; opacity:0.0;"> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | </a> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
<br/> | <br/> | ||
<h1>Modeling - mutual repressor switch</h1> | <h1>Modeling - mutual repressor switch</h1> | ||
Line 433: | Line 468: | ||
<h2><a name="model">The model</a></h2> | <h2><a name="model">The model</a></h2> | ||
+ | <p> | ||
+ | A description of the mutual repressor switch is available <a href="https://2012.igem.org/Team:Slovenia/TheSwitchMutualRepressorSwitch">here</a>. | ||
+ | </p> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p> | ||
+ | For modeling purposes, the mutual repressor switch can be represented as a set of constructs: | ||
+ | <p><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/4/4e/Svn12_modeling_mrs_shema.png"/></p> | ||
+ | </p> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <p><i>[A]</i> is TAL-A:KRAB binding site, <i>[B]</i> is TAL-B:KRAB binding site, <i>pir</i> is PIP:KRAB binding site and <i>etr</i> is E:KRAB binding site. Reporter 1 is denoted as BFP and reporter 2 is denoted as mCitrine from here on. The presence of signal 1 causes PIP:KRAB to dissociate from promoter 3 (construct 3) binding site. The presence of signal 2 causes E:KRAB to dissociate from promoter 4 (construct 4) binding site.</p> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
<p> | <p> | ||
We can describe the relations for the mutual repressor switch by the following equations. Fractional occupancies of promoters are: | We can describe the relations for the mutual repressor switch by the following equations. Fractional occupancies of promoters are: | ||
Line 453: | Line 500: | ||
<p> | <p> | ||
- | + | Protein production is described by a set of equations: | |
<p><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/0/09/Svn12_mrs_det_d1_bfp.png"/></p> | <p><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/0/09/Svn12_mrs_det_d1_bfp.png"/></p> | ||
<p><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/7/74/Svn12_mrs_det_d2_mcit.png"/></p> | <p><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2012/7/74/Svn12_mrs_det_d2_mcit.png"/></p> | ||
Line 467: | Line 514: | ||
<li>[BFP], [mCitrine], [TAL-A:KRAB], [TAL-B:KRAB], [PIP:KRAB] and [E:KRAB] are protein concentrations;</li> | <li>[BFP], [mCitrine], [TAL-A:KRAB], [TAL-B:KRAB], [PIP:KRAB] and [E:KRAB] are protein concentrations;</li> | ||
<li>k<sub>BFP</sub> is BFP production rate from construct 1 (i.e. production rate when construct 1 promoter is active);</li> | <li>k<sub>BFP</sub> is BFP production rate from construct 1 (i.e. production rate when construct 1 promoter is active);</li> | ||
- | <li>kb<sub>BFP</sub> | + | <li>kb<sub>BFP</sub> is leaky BFP production rate from construct 1 (i.e. production rate when construct 1 promoter is inactive);</li> |
<li>deg<sub>BFP</sub> is BFP degradation rate;</li> | <li>deg<sub>BFP</sub> is BFP degradation rate;</li> | ||
<li>k<sub>cit</sub> is mCitrine production rate from construct 2 (i.e. production rate when construct 2 promoter is active);</li> | <li>k<sub>cit</sub> is mCitrine production rate from construct 2 (i.e. production rate when construct 2 promoter is active);</li> | ||
- | <li>kb<sub>cit</sub> is | + | <li>kb<sub>cit</sub> is leaky mCitrine production rate from construct 2 (i.e. production rate when construct 2 promoter in inactive);</li> |
<li>deg<sub>cit</sub> is mCitrine degradation rate;</li> | <li>deg<sub>cit</sub> is mCitrine degradation rate;</li> | ||
<li>k<sub>2AKR</sub> is TAL-A:KRAB production rate from construct 2;</li> | <li>k<sub>2AKR</sub> is TAL-A:KRAB production rate from construct 2;</li> | ||
- | <li>kb<sub>2AKR</sub> is | + | <li>kb<sub>2AKR</sub> is leaky TAL-A:KRAB production rate from construct 2;</li> |
<li>k<sub>4AKR</sub> is TAL-A:KRAB production rate from construct 4;</li> | <li>k<sub>4AKR</sub> is TAL-A:KRAB production rate from construct 4;</li> | ||
- | <li>kb<sub>4AKR</sub> is | + | <li>kb<sub>4AKR</sub> is leaky TAL-A:KRAB production rate from construct 4;</li> |
<li>deg<sub>AKR</sub> is TAL-A:KRAB degradation rate;</li> | <li>deg<sub>AKR</sub> is TAL-A:KRAB degradation rate;</li> | ||
<li>k<sub>1BKR</sub> is TAL-B:KRAB production rate from construct 1;</li> | <li>k<sub>1BKR</sub> is TAL-B:KRAB production rate from construct 1;</li> | ||
- | <li>kb<sub>1BKR</sub> Is | + | <li>kb<sub>1BKR</sub> Is leaky TAL-B:KRAB production rate from construct 1;</li> |
<li>k<sub>3BKR</sub> is TAL-B:KRAB production rate from construct 3;</li> | <li>k<sub>3BKR</sub> is TAL-B:KRAB production rate from construct 3;</li> | ||
- | <li>kb<sub>3BKR</sub> is | + | <li>kb<sub>3BKR</sub> is leaky TAL-B:KRAB production rate from construct 3;</li> |
<li>deg<sub>BKR</sub> is TAL-B:KRAB degradation rate;</li> | <li>deg<sub>BKR</sub> is TAL-B:KRAB degradation rate;</li> | ||
<li>k<sub>PIP</sub> is PIP:KRAB production rate;</li> | <li>k<sub>PIP</sub> is PIP:KRAB production rate;</li> | ||
Line 495: | Line 542: | ||
<h2><a name="results">Simulation results</a></h2> | <h2><a name="results">Simulation results</a></h2> | ||
<p> | <p> | ||
- | Simulation results are shown as reporter (BFP, mCitrine) concentrations – indicating one of the two states - as a function of time. No specific units were used, hence no absolute interpretation of the results' values in terms of units is in place. Switching between states was achieved using two signals (signal 1 and signal 2) | + | Simulation results are shown as reporter (BFP, mCitrine) concentrations – indicating one of the two states - as a function of time. No specific units were used, hence no absolute interpretation of the results' values in terms of units is in place. Switching between states was achieved using two signals (signal 1 and signal 2) modeled as a unit step present for a certain duration of time. Each signal was used to induce a different stable state. The presence of signal 1 caused PIP:KRAB to dissociate from promoter 3 binding site and activated transcription. The presence of signal 2 caused E:KRAB to dissociate from promoter 4 binding site and activated transcription. |
</p> | </p> | ||
Line 558: | Line 605: | ||
<tbody class="invisible"> | <tbody class="invisible"> | ||
<tr class="normal"><td class="invisible"> | <tr class="normal"><td class="invisible"> | ||
- | <b>Figure 2.</b> Degraded bistability of the mutual repressor toggle switch for cooperativity of 1.15. In comparison to Figure 1 - the same state-switching scenario applies - bistability was exhibited, but very low difference between the states was achieved when cooperativity was set to 1.15 (other parameters were identical to parameters of Figure 1 ) and no leaky transcription was present. Increasing the the production rate of E:KRAB and PIP:KRAB slightly increased the levels, but even a 100-fold increase in E:KRAB and PIP:KRAB production rate compared to other protein production rates did not produce significantly higher stable-state levels. Introducing residual TAL expression of as little as 1% resulted in the loss of bistability for the cooperativity of 1.15. | + | <b>Figure 2.</b> Degraded bistability of the mutual repressor toggle switch for cooperativity of 1.15. In comparison to Figure 1 - the same state-switching scenario applies - bistability was exhibited, but very low difference between the states was achieved when cooperativity was set to 1.15 (other parameters were identical to parameters of Figure 1) and no leaky transcription was present. Increasing the the production rate of E:KRAB and PIP:KRAB slightly increased the levels, but even a 100-fold increase in E:KRAB and PIP:KRAB production rate compared to other protein production rates did not produce significantly higher stable-state levels. Introducing residual TAL expression of as little as 1% resulted in the loss of bistability for the cooperativity of 1.15. |
</td></tr> | </td></tr> | ||
</tbody> | </tbody> |
Latest revision as of 21:01, 26 October 2012
Modeling - mutual repressor switch
- Deterministic model
- Stochastic model
- C#Sim model
Deterministic model of the mutual repressor switch
Deterministic analysis demonstrated that while theoretical conditions under which the mutual repressor switch would exhibit bistability exist, they are unlikely to occur in a realistic experimental setting. This was because:
Increase in cooperativity lead to more robust behavior – higher expression levels of stable states were reached and higher – but still low - tolerance to leaky expression was observed. Experimental results confirmed that the mutual repressor switch did not exhibit bistability. |
The model
A description of the mutual repressor switch is available here.
For modeling purposes, the mutual repressor switch can be represented as a set of constructs:
[A] is TAL-A:KRAB binding site, [B] is TAL-B:KRAB binding site, pir is PIP:KRAB binding site and etr is E:KRAB binding site. Reporter 1 is denoted as BFP and reporter 2 is denoted as mCitrine from here on. The presence of signal 1 causes PIP:KRAB to dissociate from promoter 3 (construct 3) binding site. The presence of signal 2 causes E:KRAB to dissociate from promoter 4 (construct 4) binding site.
We can describe the relations for the mutual repressor switch by the following equations. Fractional occupancies of promoters are:
where:- f1, f2, f3 and f4 are probabilities of promoters 1 (construct 1), 2 (construct 2), 3 (construct 3) and 4 (construct 4), respectively, being in an active state, resulting in gene expression;
- [TAL-A:KRAB], [TAL-B:KRAB], [PIP:KRAB] and [E:KRAB] are protein concentrations at a given time;
- k1, k2, k3 and k4 are association constants;
- n1, n2, n3 and n4 are exponents representing the degree of functional cooperativity;
- Kr is the amount of repressor required for 50% repression of constitutive promoter (equal to 1 in our simulations);
Protein production is described by a set of equations:
where:- [BFP], [mCitrine], [TAL-A:KRAB], [TAL-B:KRAB], [PIP:KRAB] and [E:KRAB] are protein concentrations;
- kBFP is BFP production rate from construct 1 (i.e. production rate when construct 1 promoter is active);
- kbBFP is leaky BFP production rate from construct 1 (i.e. production rate when construct 1 promoter is inactive);
- degBFP is BFP degradation rate;
- kcit is mCitrine production rate from construct 2 (i.e. production rate when construct 2 promoter is active);
- kbcit is leaky mCitrine production rate from construct 2 (i.e. production rate when construct 2 promoter in inactive);
- degcit is mCitrine degradation rate;
- k2AKR is TAL-A:KRAB production rate from construct 2;
- kb2AKR is leaky TAL-A:KRAB production rate from construct 2;
- k4AKR is TAL-A:KRAB production rate from construct 4;
- kb4AKR is leaky TAL-A:KRAB production rate from construct 4;
- degAKR is TAL-A:KRAB degradation rate;
- k1BKR is TAL-B:KRAB production rate from construct 1;
- kb1BKR Is leaky TAL-B:KRAB production rate from construct 1;
- k3BKR is TAL-B:KRAB production rate from construct 3;
- kb3BKR is leaky TAL-B:KRAB production rate from construct 3;
- degBKR is TAL-B:KRAB degradation rate;
- kPIP is PIP:KRAB production rate;
- degPIP is PIP:KRAB degradation rate;
- kE is E:KRAB production rate;
- degE is E:KRAB degradation rate.
See model derivation for details.
Simulation results
Simulation results are shown as reporter (BFP, mCitrine) concentrations – indicating one of the two states - as a function of time. No specific units were used, hence no absolute interpretation of the results' values in terms of units is in place. Switching between states was achieved using two signals (signal 1 and signal 2) modeled as a unit step present for a certain duration of time. Each signal was used to induce a different stable state. The presence of signal 1 caused PIP:KRAB to dissociate from promoter 3 binding site and activated transcription. The presence of signal 2 caused E:KRAB to dissociate from promoter 4 binding site and activated transcription.
Initial species' concentrations were 0 for all simulations.
Detailed parameter values for each simulation can be found in MATLAB files here.
Simulation set 1 - switching between stable states
The purpose of this simulation was to show that conditions exist in deterministic setting where the switch can assume each of the two stable states. Functional cooperativity of each transcription factor (TF) was initialy taken as 2.5. Product production:degradation ratio was equal to 100 (i.e. maximal possible expression level was 100). Ideal circumstances with zero leaky expression were assumed. Figure 1 shows the result of this simulation, demonstrating bistability. The following state-switching scenario was used:
- at time = 0, signal 1 was introduced (signal 1 = 1) to induce the first stable state, depicted by a high level of BFP;
- at time = 100, signal 1 was removed from the system (signal 1 = 0); high-BFP state persisted even after that, meaning a stable state was achieved;
- at time = 400, signal 2 was introduced (signal 2 = 1) to induce the second, high-mCitrine stable state;
- at time = 500, signal 2 was removed from the system (signal 2 = 0); high-mCitrine state persisted, meaning a stable state was achieved;
- at time = 800, signal 1 was re-introduced (signal 1 = 1) to show that a transition to high-BFP state could follow a high-mCitrine state;
- at time = 900, signal 1 was removed (signal 1 = 0); high-BFP stable state persisted.
Figure 1. Mutual repressor switch transitioning between stable states. Reporter (BFP, mCitrine) concentrations are depicted as a function of time. Here, stable states were observed under ideal conditions with no leaky expression and functional cooperativity (exponent values) equal to 2.5. |
When low TF exponents values were used – meaning low functional cooperativity - the differentiation between the twoo states steadily degraded after the removal of the inducer and even that only under the conditions when no or very little leaky transcription was present. Figure 2 shows simulation results for the cooperativity value equal to 1.15 for all TFs with zero promotor leakage. Unlike positive feedback loop switch (analyzed in the later chapters), which exhibited high bistability even for cooperativity as low as 1.15, this was not the case for the mutual repressor switch. Increasing E:KRAB and PIP:KRAB production rate in comparison to other proteins did not significantly maintain the stable state levels.
Figure 2. Degraded bistability of the mutual repressor toggle switch for cooperativity of 1.15. In comparison to Figure 1 - the same state-switching scenario applies - bistability was exhibited, but very low difference between the states was achieved when cooperativity was set to 1.15 (other parameters were identical to parameters of Figure 1) and no leaky transcription was present. Increasing the the production rate of E:KRAB and PIP:KRAB slightly increased the levels, but even a 100-fold increase in E:KRAB and PIP:KRAB production rate compared to other protein production rates did not produce significantly higher stable-state levels. Introducing residual TAL expression of as little as 1% resulted in the loss of bistability for the cooperativity of 1.15. |
Simulation set 2 - cooperativity and leaky expression
Higher cooperativity values of TFs were found to increase the robustness of the switch, i.e. higher leaky expression tolerance was achieved, manifesting as higher stable-state levels. Increasing leaky gene expression in the system resulted in the loss of bistability if cooperativity was too low. Bistability was lost regardless of cooperativity after a certain threshold of leaky expression as low as 2% was reached.
Figure 3 shows that introducing leaky expression of each designed repressor caused stable-state levels to drop (to 50 %). Increasing leaky expression further, to 0.3, resulted in extremely low reporter levels with no clear bistability exhibited even in the presence of cooperativity of 2.5, as shown in Figure 4. Increasing PIP:KRAB and E:KRAB production rates relative to other production rates again didn't increase the levels.
Figure 3. Mutual repressor switch with leaky expression of each TAL equal to 0.05. Cooperativity was equal to 2.5. Bistability was preserved, but noticeably lower levels of expression were achieved. Production rate of each species was set to 10 and degradation rate to 0.1. |
Figure 4. Mutual repressor switch with leaky expression of each designed repressor equal to 0.3 resulted in low reporter levels and loss of bistability, despite cooperativity of 2.5. Increasing PIP:KRAB and E:KRAB production rates did not change this. |
Simulation set 3 - cooperativity and leaky expression
We performed parameter evaluation to find parameter ranges that could lead to bistability. The following state-switching scenario was used for all simulations:
- at time = 0, signal 1 was introduced to induce stable state 1 (high BFP);
- at time = 50, signal 1 was removed;
- at time = 100, signal 2 was introduced to induce stable state 2 (high mCitrine);
- at time = 150, signal 2 was removed.
TF cooperativity was set to 2.5. Product production:degradation ratio was 100. Default leaky expression of all TALs was 0.01, with zero leaky expression of reporters. Simulation result, shown in Figure 5, shows the switch in this scenario exhibited bistability.
Figure 5. Mutual repressor switch exhibiting bistability. This simulation scenario was used in parameter evaulation tests. |
We performed several simulations using this scenario, each time varying a different parameter. This way we produced multiple 3D graphs, showing how each of the two stable states changes in time (according to the above-described state-switching scenario) for different parameter values.
First, we tested the effect of TF cooperativity (exponent values) on each state. Figure 6 shows that, for the first (high BFP) stable state, the maximal expression level under given scenario was only observed for cooperativity values above approximately 2. Similarly, as shown in Figure 7, the second (high mCitrine) state reached the maximal level for cooperativity values above 2.
|
Figure 6. Dependence of the reporter of stable state 1 (BFP) levels on coperativity. Switching scenario from figure 5 was used. |
|
Figure 7. Dependence of stable state 2 reporter (mCitrine) levels on coperativity.. Switching scenario from Figure 5 was used. |
Next, we tested how TAL repressor leaky expression affects state levels. The results – depicted in Figure 8 for state 1 and Figure 9 for state 2- show that, despite TF cooperativity of 2.5, the mutual repressor switch showed very low tolerance to leaky expression, as stability was lost even for values as low as 0.05. Increasing cooperativity improved this tolerance a bit, but insignificantly. Decreasing cooperativity worsened the effect of leaky expression on stability.
|
Figure 8. Stable state 1 levels at different TAL repressor leaky expression rates. Each TAL repressor gene was assigned a leaky expression rate shown. Switching scenario from figure 5 was used. Very low tolerance to leaky expression was observed. |
|
Figure 9. Stable state 1 levels at different TAL repressor leaky expression rates. Each TAL repressor gene was assigned a leaky expression rate shown. Switching scenario from figure 5 was used. Very low tolerance to leaky expression was observed. |
Next: Stochastic model of the mutual repressor switch >>