Mathematical Modelling of the Canonical NF-κB Pathway

Janina Mothes

ISBN 978-3-8325-4277-1
167 pages, year of publication: 2016
price: 44.50 €
Mathematical Modelling of the Canonical NF-κB Pathway

The regulation of the transcription factor NF-κB plays a central role in physiological processes by influencing cell differentiation, proliferation and survival. Experiments revealed great differences in the dynamical behaviour of NF-κB ranging from sustained oscillations to damped oscillations and monotone increase evolving to a stable steady state. In this work, a theoretical approach was used to determine internal sources of the observed variability in the dynamics. A core model of the canonical NF-κB pathway was developed to study the dynamical properties using a bifurcation analysis. The total NF-κB concentration as well as the transcription rate constant of the NF-κB inhibitor IκBα were identified as two key parameters that influence the dynamics of NF-κB.

Further, the activation and deactivation of NF-κB is tightly regulated by negative feed-back loops. The transcription of the two NF-κB inhibitors IκBα and A20 is induced by NF-κB itself. In this work, a mathematical model was developed comprising both negative feedbacks to determine if post-transcriptional regulation of the two inhibitor mRNAs by the RNA-binding protein RC3H1 can impact the NF-κB signal transduction. Additionally, the interplay of the two feedbacks was analysed and cell type specific differences were examined. Again, the total NF-κB concentration was found to have a crucial impact. It determines the influence of RC3H1 on the NF-κB activity and the interplay of the two feedbacks.