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Updated: Nov 14, 2025
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Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Active ERK in the C. elegans Germline
Published on: November 29, 2016
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Dynamics of ERK regulation in the processive limit
Carsten Conradi1, Nida Obatake2, Anne Shiu2
1HTW Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Journal of Mathematical Biology
|March 11, 2021
Summary
This study shows that dual-site phosphorylation and dephosphorylation models retain bistability and oscillations even as they approach processivity. Precursors to these behaviors exist at all processivity levels.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Systems Biology
- Mathematical Biology
Background:
- Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways are crucial in cellular signaling.
- Dual-site phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are key regulatory mechanisms.
- Processivity in these mechanisms can impact pathway dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of processivity on ERK regulation models.
- To determine if bistability and oscillations are maintained as mechanisms become processive.
- To explore the coexistence of bistability and oscillations.
Main Methods:
- Mathematical modeling of dual-site phosphorylation and dephosphorylation.
- Analysis of model dynamics, including bistability and oscillations.
- Investigation of simplified model versions and their properties (multistationarity, Hopf bifurcations).
Main Results:
- The model loses bistability and oscillations in the limit of full processivity.
- Bistability and oscillations are retained at intermediate processivity levels.
- Multistationarity and Hopf bifurcations, precursors to bistability and oscillations, exist across all processivity levels.
Conclusions:
- Processivity does not necessarily abolish bistability and oscillations in ERK regulation.
- The existence of bistability and oscillations depends on the degree of processivity.
- Further investigation is needed to understand the combined presence of bistability and oscillations.
Keywords:
BistabilityChemical reaction networkExtracellular signal-regulated kinaseHopf bifurcationOscillationMore Related Videos
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