Reliability of frequency- and amplitude-decoding in gene regulation

TL;DR

This paper investigates how oscillatory signals in gene regulation can reduce noise and produce more stable protein levels compared to constant signals, highlighting the potential advantages of frequency-based encoding in biochemical signaling.

Contribution

It demonstrates that oscillating transcription factor signals can minimize noise in gene expression, offering new insights into biochemical signaling strategies.

Findings

Oscillating signals produce more stable protein levels than constant signals.

Frequency encoding can reduce noise in gene regulation.

Oscillatory inputs outperform constant inputs in certain parameter regimes.

Abstract

In biochemical signaling, information is often encoded in oscillatory signals. However, the advantages of such a coding strategy over an amplitude encoding scheme of constant signals remain unclear. Here we study the dynamics of a simple model gene promoter in response to oscillating and constant transcription factor signals. We find that in biologically-relevant parameter regimes an oscillating input can produce a more constant protein level than a constant input. Our results suggest that oscillating signals may be used to minimize noise in gene regulation.