Membrane Systems And Tools Combining Dynamical Structures With Reaction Kinetics For Applications In Chronobiology

This chapter addresses three coordinated chronobiological studies demonstrating the convergence of experimental observations, fine-grained spatiotemporal modelling, and predictive simulation. Due to the discrete manner of molecular assembly in cell signalling and gene regulation, we define a framework of membrane systems equipped with discretised forms of reaction kinetics in concert with variable intramolecular structures. Our first study is dedicated to circadian clocks inducing daily biological rhythms. As an inspiring example, the KaiABC core oscillator reaches its functionality by cyclically varying protein structures. Within our second study, we present ameta-model of an entire circadian clockwork able to adapt its oscillation to an external stimulus in terms of a frequency control system acting in a phase-locked loop. Substrate concentration courses resulting from gene expression reflect its oscillatory behaviour utilised in a periodical trigger for subsequent processes. In this context, our third study cytometrically quantifies the dynamical behaviour of a bistable toggle switch resulting from mutual gene regulation.