Design of Synthetic Oscillating Networks

Abstract

Rhythmic behavior represents one of the most striking dynamical phenomena in biological systems. The biological rhythms, including neural, cardiac, glycolytic, mitotic, hormonal, circadian rhythms, and rhythms in ecology and epidemiology, with periods ranging from seconds to years, play important roles in many processes (Goldbeter 1997). Such dynamical phenomena arise from interplay of cellular components and are typically generated by negative feedback loops (Dunlap 1999). From both theoretical and experimental viewpoints, it is still a great challenge to model, analyze, and further predict oscillatory phenomena in various living organisms. Oscillations, particularly periodic oscillations, are widely used in engineering control systems as central clocks to synchronize various elements with periodic behavior. Many multicellular organisms also adopt variations of cellular clocks to coordinate their behavior over the course of the day–night cycle. Models and theoretical approaches are essential for gaining understanding of the principles underlying these rhythmic or oscillating processes.