Cited by 17Gene Regulatory Network Analysisstochastic dynamics and bifurcationStochastic processes and statistical mechanics

Reduction of a stochastic model of gene expression: Lagrangian dynamics gives access to basins of attraction as cell types and metastabilty

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Ventre, Elias, Espinasse, Thibault, Bréhier, Charles-Edouard, Calvez, Vincent, Lepoutre, Thomas, Gandrillon, Olivier·2021·Journal of Mathematical Biology

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Abstract

Differentiation is the process whereby a cell acquires a specific phenotype, by differential gene expression as a function of time. This is thought to result from the dynamical functioning of an underlying Gene Regulatory Network (GRN). The precise path from the stochastic GRN behavior to the resulting cell state is still an open question. In this work we propose to reduce a stochastic model of gene expression, where a cell is represented by a vector in a continuous space of gene expression, to a discrete coarse-grained model on a limited number of cell types. We develop analytical results and numerical tools to perform this reduction for a specific model characterizing the evolution of a cell by a system of piecewise deterministic Markov processes (PDMP). Solving a spectral problem, we find the explicit variational form of the rate function associated to a large deviations principle, for any number of genes. The resulting Lagrangian dynamics allows us to define a deterministic limit of which the basins of attraction can be identified to cellular types. In this context the quasipotential, describing the transitions between these basins in the weak noise limit, can be defined as the unique solution of an Hamilton-Jacobi equation under a particular constraint. We develop a numerical method for approximating the coarse-grained model parameters, and show its accuracy for a symmetric toggle-switch network. We deduce from the reduced model an approximation of the stationary distribution of the PDMP system, which appears as a Beta mixture. Altogether those results establish a rigorous frame for connecting GRN behavior to the resulting cellular behavior, including the calculation of the probability of jumps between cell types.

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Authors
Ventre, E., Espinasse, T., Bréhier, C.-E., Calvez, V., Lepoutre, T., & Gandrillon, O.
Affiliations
Lyon 1 Université (FR)
Corresponding author
Ventre, Elias
Venue
Journal of Mathematical Biology
Published
2021-11
Volume
83
Issue
5
Pages
59-59
ISSN
  • 0303-6812 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-1416
OpenAlex
W3209413160
Cited by
17
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1
FWCI
0.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Mathematical Biology (publishedVersion)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
Funders
Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-18-CE45-0023-03)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › stochastic dynamics and bifurcation
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Mathematical Physics › Stochastic processes and statistical mechanics
Keywords
stochastic gene expression, gene regulatory networks, coarse-graining, piecewise deterministic Markov processes, large deviations principle, rate function, Lagrangian mechanics, quasipotential, Hamilton-Jacobi equation, basins of attraction, metastability, cell differentiation, toggle switch, stationary distribution, weak noise limit
MeSH terms
Biochemical Phenomena, Markov Chains, Stochastic Processes, Gene Expression, Gene Regulatory Networks

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