Event Details

Title: Dynamics of translational control of gene expression: oscillations, bistability and intermittency

This talk is supported by the Data Science Institute and the Physics Department

Abstract:

Proteins are the building blocks from which cells are assembled. In a single cell there are thousands of different types of proteins, each type having a specific role in the cell. Cells can regulate the amount of proteins they produce of each type, as this allows them to adapt to their environment. This process, known as gene expression regulation, is important to understand how cells work and react to stress.

In this talk I will focus on how proteins are made from their messenger RNA templates (translation), and describe a series of mathematical models that allow predicting how many proteins of each type the cell produces. By means of simple transport process widely used in statistical physics, we are able to draw conclusions about how protein production is regulated at the level of translation.

In particular, I will focus on the role of interacting feedback loops in translation, showing that their interplay can yield oscillatory behaviour and bistability in protein synthesis, and I will discuss the implications of considering two types of ribosomes, leading to intermittent dynamics.

References:

L Wang et al, Phys Rev E 100, 050402(R) (2019)

M McFarland et al, Nuc Ac Res, doi: 10.1093/nar/gkaa055 (2020)

P Bonnin et al, Phys Rev E 105, 034117 (2022)

Bio:

I studied Physics at the University of Zaragoza (Spain) and University of Paderborn (Germany). I then did my PhD studies at the University of Potsdam (Germany) in the area of nonlinear time series analysis, followed by a post-doctoral position at the same university. After that I moved to the University of Aberdeen, where I got a permanent academic position and was promoted to personal chair in 2018. My main research areas of interest are mathematical modelling of biological systems, applying concepts from statistical physics and nonlinear dynamics, in particular to the problems of translation and stress responses. I am also interested in the integration of data science and mathematical modelling.