Oscillatory dynamics in the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade

We have used quantitative modeling of signaling networks to show that the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade — a highly-conserved signaling network in eukaryotes — can functions as a low-pass filter by amplifying lowfrequency oscillations and attenuating high-frequency oscillations. This filtering function of the kinase cascade is in addition to other known functions such as being an ultrasensitive switch. We show how this low-pass filtering regulates downstream cellular functions and cellular physiology. We also show how the presence of scaffold proteins in the kinase cascade modifies the properties of the low-pass filter. In particular, we find that the presence of scaffold proteins destroys the properties of the low-pass filtering, and instead attenuate all oscillations. In particular, the higher the scaffold concentration, the greater the attenuation.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2005
• Where: CSB
• Authors: K.-H. Chiam, Vipul Bhargava, Gunaretnam Rajagopal
• Keywords: Bioinformatics, CSB 2005, Kinase Cascade, Low-pass, Low-pass filter