Conservation of Dynamic Modularity in Biological Network Modeling: Modular Boolean Model of Cell Cycle Regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Name: Caitlin Strassburg
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Mathematics
Advisors: Erzsebet Regan, Robert Kelvey

Dynamic Modularity is a proposed characteristic of biologically defined Boolean Regulatory Networks. The principle states that when modular networks regulating individual cell behaviors are connected according to biological interactions, the phenotypes of the newly formed network will be discrete combinations of each constituent switch’s phenotypes. This hypothesized phenomenon has only yet been studied in the regulatory networks of mammalian cell cycle and apoptosis. Here we introduce a Boolean regulatory network for cell cycle control in S. cerevisiae consisting of two modular networks. The two constituent switches represent the Restriction/START and Spindle Assembly Checkpoints of the cell cycle. This model is shown to reliably replicate the dynamics of the Restriction/START and Spindle Assembly Checkpoints in the cell cycle of S. cerevisiae. Notably, the model doesn’t not replicate the dynamics of the DNA damage checkpoint biologically observed in phase G2 of the cell cycle. Each constituent switch displays bistable dynamics consistent with their biological regulatory role. The modular nature of this model makes it a promising target for evaluating the presence of Dynamic Modularity in a novel model organism.

Posted in Comments Enabled, Independent Study, Symposium 2023 on April 12, 2023.

One response to “Conservation of Dynamic Modularity in Biological Network Modeling: Modular Boolean Model of Cell Cycle Regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae”

1. Katie Fleig says:

   April 20, 2023 at 8:23 pm

   Yay Caitlin!! Congratulations!!