Work

Resource competition-driven bistability and stochastic switching amplify gene expression noise

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Although the impact of resource competition on the deterministic behavior of synthetic gene circuits has been studied, its effects on gene expression noise remain obscure. In this work, we systematically analyze the role of resource competition in noise propagation within a genetic inhibition cascade circuit. We found that resource competition amplifies gene expression noise by introducing unexpected bistability and stochastic switching between the two stable states. This emergent bistability, driven by resource competition-mediated double negative feedback, allows one gene to dominate expression while suppressing the other in a "winner-takes-all" behavior. Our findings highlight the critical role of resource competition in shaping the noise dynamics and its propagation, underscoring the importance of considering these effects when designing and controlling synthetic circuits.

Source: PLoS Computational Biology

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012931

Authors: Hanah Goetz, Rong Zhang, Xiao Wang, Xiao-Jun Tian

Institution: Arizona State University

Language: English

Topic: Gene Regulatory Network Analysis

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,043

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institute of General Medical Sciences