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Tentativeness and fervor in cell biology require negative and positive feedforward control
1Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Life Sciences
|January 1, 1993
Abstract:
End-product feedback regulates early steps in metabolic pathways, affecting activation and the rate of end-product synthesis. Early formation of end-product also modifies later steps in the synthesis of end-product. We designate this form of regulation feedforward. Negative feedback/feedforward by end-products may result in homeostasis, but also in physiologic tentativeness. Positive feedback/feedforward by end-product gives rise to fervid events. Tentativeness and fervor, due to negative and positive feedforward rather than feedback, explain otherwise puzzling aspects of immunology and endocrinology.