Mathematical models of the Arabidopsis circadian oscillator

TL;DR

This paper reviews the development of mathematical models of the Arabidopsis circadian clock, highlighting two main modeling approaches and discussing current challenges in integrating environmental factors.

Contribution

It provides a structured overview of the evolution of modeling strategies, from detailed network assembly to simplified dynamical models, and discusses future challenges.

Findings

Two distinct phases of modeling: extension and reduction.

Current challenges include spatial modeling and environmental integration.

Emphasis on balancing detail and simplicity in models.

Abstract

We review the construction and evolution of mathematical models of the Arabidopsis circadian clock, structuring the discussion into two distinct historical phases of modeling strategies: extension and reduction. The extension phase explores the bottom-up assembly of regulatory networks introducing as many components and interactions as possible in order to capture the oscillatory nature of the clock. The reduction phase deals with functional decomposition, distilling complex models to their essential dynamical repertoire. Current challenges in this field, including the integration of spatial considerations and environmental influences like light and temperature, are also discussed. The review emphasizes the ongoing need for models that balance molecular detail with practical simplicity.