Many cell control processes consist of networks of interacting elements that affect the state of each other over time. Such an arrangement resembles the principles of artificial neural networks, in which the state of a particular node depends on the combination of the states of other neurons. The lambda bacteriophage lysis/lysogeny decision circuit can be represented by such a network. It is used here as a model for testing the validity of a neural approach to the analysis of genetic networks. The model considers multigenic regulation including positive and negative feedback. It is used to simulate the dynamics of the lambda phage regulatory system; the results are compared with experimental observation. The comparison proves that the neural network model describes behavior of the system in full agreement with experiments; moreover, it predicts its function in experimentally inaccessible situations and explains the experimental observations. The application of the principles of neural networks to the cell control system leads to conclusions about the stability and redundancy of genetic networks and the cell functionality. Reverse engineering of the biochemical pathways from proteomics and DNA micro array data using the suggested neural network model is discussed.

Institute of Microbiology CAS Videnska 1083 142 20 Prague Czech Republic

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