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From Signal Dynamics to Cell Fate: The Role of Learning Duration
Claire Barbier1, Elisabeth Pécou1
1Laboratoire J.-A. Dieudonné, UMR CNRS-Université Côte d'Azur, 28 avenue de Valrose, Nice, 06000, France.
Journal of Theoretical Biology
|August 7, 2026
Summary
Cells require specific signal exposure times to change fate. This study defines "learning duration" and finds distinct durations for cell cycle arrest (hours) versus apoptosis (days) in the p53 response to DNA damage.
Area of Science:
- Systems Biology
- Cellular Decision Making
- Quantitative Biology
Background:
- Cell fate decisions are complex processes.
- Hysteretic systems model cell fate mechanisms.
- Environmental signals trigger cellular responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce and define "learning duration" for cellular responses.
- Investigate bi-hysteretic systems for graded cellular responses.
- Apply the concept to the p53-mediated DNA damage response.
Main Methods:
- Formal definition of learning duration for hysteretic systems.
- Numerical simulations using a published p53 pathway model (BioModels Database).
- Analysis of distinct cell fate decision pathways.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated bi-hysteretic behavior in the p53 response system.
- Quantified distinct learning durations: hours for cell cycle arrest, days for apoptosis.
- Confirmed that signal duration is critical for fate discrimination.
Conclusions:
- Learning duration is a key parameter for understanding cell fate.
- The p53 system exhibits distinct learning durations for different outcomes.
- Findings support experimental observations on sustained p53 signaling for apoptosis.
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