Optimizing Information Flow in Small Genetic Networks. II. Feed-forward Interactions

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Penn collection
Department of Physics Papers
Degree type
Discipline
Subject
Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Physics
Funder
Grant number
License
Copyright date
Distributor
Related resources
Author
Walczak, Aleksandra M.
Tkačik, Gasper
Bialek, William
Contributor
Abstract

Central to the functioning of a living cell is its ability to control the readout or expression of information encoded in the genome. In many cases, a single transcription factor protein activates or represses the expression of many genes. As the concentration of the transcription factor varies, the target genes thus undergo correlated changes, and this redundancy limits the ability of the cell to transmit information about input signals. We explore how interactions among the target genes can reduce this redundancy and optimize information transmission. Our discussion builds on recent work [Tkačik et al., Phys. Rev. E 80, 031920 (2009)], and there are connections to much earlier work on the role of lateral inhibition in enhancing the efficiency of information transmission in neural circuits; for simplicity we consider here the case where the interactions have a feed forward structure, with no loops. Even with this limitation, the networks that optimize information transmission have a structure reminiscent of the networks found in real biological systems.

Advisor
Date Range for Data Collection (Start Date)
Date Range for Data Collection (End Date)
Digital Object Identifier
Series name and number
Publication date
2010-04-06
Journal title
Volume number
Issue number
Publisher
Publisher DOI
Journal Issue
Comments
Suggested Citation: Walczak, A.M., G. Tkačik and W. Bialek. (2010). "Optimizing information flow in small genetic networks. II. Feed-forward interactions." Physical Review E. 81, 041905. © The American Physical Review http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhyRevE.81.041905
Recommended citation
Collection