Competition between Multiple Totally Asymmetric Simple Exclusion Processes for a Finite Pool of Resources

TL;DR

This paper investigates how multiple TASEPs compete for limited resources using simulations and theory, revealing new regimes and behaviors relevant to biological transport processes like protein synthesis.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized domain wall theory to analyze coupled TASEPs with finite resources, uncovering novel regimes not seen in simpler models.

Findings

Equal length TASEPs behave like a single finite-resource TASEP

Different length TASEPs exhibit new unanticipated regimes

Generalized domain wall theory matches simulation results

Abstract

Using Monte Carlo simulations and a domain wall theory, we discuss the effect of coupling several totally asymmetric simple exclusion processes (TASEPs) to a finite reservoir of particles. This simple model mimics directed biological transport processes in the presence of finite resources, such as protein synthesis limited by a finite pool of ribosomes. If all TASEPs have equal length, we find behavior which is analogous to a single TASEP coupled to a finite pool. For the more generic case of chains with different lengths, several unanticipated new regimes emerge. A generalized domain wall theory captures our findings in good agreement with simulation results.