Computational Models of Transcription Control: A Systems-Theoretic Perspective

In a gene network, genes may be expressed constantly, or expressed based on molecular signals. Transcription is a key process in gene expression. Through evolution, biological organisms have developed internal regulatory mechanisms for transcription control. Such mechanisms dictate how the network will function under certain environmental conditions and respond to changes in the environment. To develop formal approaches that enable the design and synthesis of such logical controls in artificial gene networks represents a major challenge. A first step in meeting this challenge would be to build analytical models of transcription control. This paper reviews computational approaches for modeling transcription control in gene networks from a systems-theoretic perspective, with emphasis on the logical representational capability of the models and their potential use in synthesis of external control.