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Updated: Apr 19, 2026

A Multilayer Microfluidic Platform for the Conduction of Prolonged Cell-Free Gene Expression
Published on: October 6, 2019
Systems biology. Accurate information transmission through dynamic biochemical signaling networks
Jangir Selimkhanov1, Brooks Taylor1, Jason Yao2
1Department of Bioengineering, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Abstract:
Stochasticity inherent to biochemical reactions (intrinsic noise) and variability in cellular states (extrinsic noise) degrade information transmitted through signaling networks. We analyzed the ability of temporal signal modulation--that is, dynamics--to reduce noise-induced information loss. In the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), calcium (Ca(2+)), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathways, response dynamics resulted in significantly greater information transmission capacities compared to nondynamic responses. Theoretical analysis demonstrated that signaling dynamics has a key role in overcoming extrinsic noise. Experimental measurements of information transmission in the ERK network under varying signal-to-noise levels confirmed our predictions and showed that signaling dynamics mitigate, and can potentially eliminate, extrinsic noise-induced information loss. By curbing the information-degrading effects of cell-to-cell variability, dynamic responses substantially increase the accuracy of biochemical signaling networks.
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