Study and parameter identification of a model coupling cell signaling and gene expression

A schematic model composed of a basic signal transduction unit and one gene is presented. The regulation of the signaling pathway by gene expression patterns is analyzed. In particular, it is shown that a slowly varying gene expression pattern can induce rapid changes in the steady states or modes of operation of the (normally varying) signal transduction pathways, and lead to sustained oscillations. As an application, a system which operates during the G2 to M phase progression in embryonic cell cycle (the activation of cell division cycle protein Cdc2 by cyclin B) is analyzed, and some parameters identified.