Mathematical modeling of stress response and signal transduction in yeast
EU-Project
Collaborators:
Stefan
Hohmann, Göteborg University
Matthias
Peter, ETH Zürich
Francesc
Posas, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona
Gustav
Ammerer, University of Vienna
Per
Sunnerhagen, Göteborg University
Rune
Pettersson, Mälardalen University
How can cells respond to changes in the environment? All eukaryotic
cells use mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades as central cores
of complex signal transduction pathways that respond to a variety of external
stimuli and regulate numerous cellular responses. The investigation of
these pathways leads to a couple of questions: What ensures the fidelity
of the signaling - especially in cases when the same protein kinase is
involved in more than one pathway? How is the signal processed in the pathway?
What prevents overstimulation (switch off)?
QUASI is employing multidisciplinary functional genomics approaches
to decipher basic mechanisms underlying signal transduction and intracellular
communication as well as transcriptional activation.
The QUASI project is of truly multidisciplinary nature as it encompasses
experimental work within gene expression and proteomics as well as chemistry,
biophysics and bioimaging. Furthermore, QUASI involves an essential component
of bioinformatics, i.e. kinetic modelling of signalling pathways. This
field is of high relevance and potential not only to support experimental
research but also for future medical applications, which may be based on
phenotypic and genomic profiling even of individual patients.
Finally, experimental and bioinformatic research will be supported
by a component of bioinformatics, information design, to assist communication
of cellular events to human perception.
QUASI takes a significant step ahead within postgenomic research. The
research goals of QUASI are a better understanding of the systems level
dynamic operation of signalling pathways. In cooperation with the other
groups we model such processes, identifying individually steps, describe
the dynamics with a system of ordinary differential equations.