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Synchronization by irregular inactivation
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1K 3M4.
Abstract:
Many natural and technological systems have on/off switches. For instance, mitosis can be halted by biochemical switches which act through the phosphorylation state of a complex called mitosis promoting factor. If switching between the on and off states is periodic, chaos is observed over a substantial portion of the on/off time parameter plane. However, we have discovered that the chaotic state is fragile with respect to random fluctuations in the on time. In the presence of such fluctuations, two uncoupled copies of the system (e.g., two cells) controlled by the same switch rapidly synchronize.
Insights
Periodic biochemical switches, like those regulating cell division (mitosis), can exhibit chaotic behavior. However, random fluctuations in these switches cause synchronized behavior in coupled systems.
Area of Science:
- Systems Biology
- Biophysics
- Biochemical Oscillations
Background:
- Many natural and technological systems utilize on/off switches for regulation.
- Biochemical switches, such as those controlling mitosis via mitosis promoting factor phosphorylation, are crucial for cellular processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamics of periodic switching systems, particularly their susceptibility to chaos.
- To explore the impact of random fluctuations on the stability of chaotic states in biological switches.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a model system exhibiting periodic on/off switching.
- Introduction of random fluctuations in the 'on' time parameter.
- Simulation of coupled system dynamics under fluctuating conditions.
Main Results:
- Periodic switching can lead to chaotic dynamics across a significant parameter range.
- The chaotic state is highly sensitive to random fluctuations in switching times.
- Two uncoupled systems driven by the same fluctuating switch rapidly synchronize.
Conclusions:
- Random fluctuations can disrupt chaotic behavior in switching systems.
- Synchronization emerges as a robust phenomenon in coupled systems under fluctuating control signals.
- This finding has implications for understanding cellular coordination and the stability of biological processes.