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Biophys. J. BioFAST: First Published June 30, 2006. doi:10.1529/biophysj.106.086777
© 2006 by the Biophysical Society.

A more recent version of this article appeared on September 1, 2006.
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BIOPHYSICAL THEORY AND MODELING

Funneled Landscape Leads to Robustness of Cellular Networks: MAPK Signal Transduction

Jin Wang 1*, Bo Huang 2, Xuefeng Xia 2 and Zhirong Sun 2

1 State University of New York at Stony Brook
2 Tsinghua University

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jin.wang.1{at}stonybrook.edu.

Submitted on April 7, 2006
Revised on May 31, 2006
Accepted on 16 June 2006


  Abstract
We uncover the underlying potential energy landscape for a cellular network. We find that the potential energy landscape of MAP Kinase signal transduction network is funneled towards the global minimum. The funneled landscape is quite robust against random perturbations. This naturally explains robustness from a physical point of view. The ratio of slope versus roughness of the landscape becomes a quantitative measure of robustness of the network. Funneled landscape is a realization of Darwinian principle of natural selection at the cellular network level. It provides an optimal criterion for network connections and design. Our approach is general and can be applied to other cellular networks.

Key Words: Cellular Network, Funneles, MAP Kinase Signal Tranduction Network, Potential Energy Landscape, Robustness, Stability




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Copyright © 2006 by the Biophysical Society.