Deciphering Parameter Sensitivity in the BvgAS Signal Transduction

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147281
• Publication Date: 2016-01-26T18:34:35Z
• Authors: Tarunendu Mapder; Srijeeta Talukder; Sudip Chattopadhyay; Suman K. Banik
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; Transcription, Genetic; Science; Q; R; Models, Theoretical; Bordetella pertussis; 03 medical and health sciences; Bacterial Proteins; Operon; Medicine; Phosphorylation; Research Article; Signal Transduction

To understand the switching of different phenotypic phases of Bordetella pertussis, we propose an optimized mathematical framework for signal transduction through BvgAS two-component system. The response of the network output to the sensory input has been demonstrated in steady state. An analysis in terms of local sensitivity amplification characterizes the nature of the molecular switch. The sensitivity analysis of the model parameters within the framework of various correlation coefficients helps to decipher the contribution of the modular structure in signal propagation. Once classified, the model parameters are tuned to generate the behavior of some novel strains using simulated annealing, a stochastic optimization technique.