Understanding Noise in Gene Expression
Author Information
Author(s): Piers J. Ingram, Michael P. H. Stumpf, Jaroslav Stark
Primary Institution: Imperial College London
Hypothesis
Can we identify the sources of noise in gene expression from protein burst size data?
Conclusion
The study shows that different combinations of biochemical rates can lead to the same burst size distribution, making it impossible to identify the sources of fluctuations from burst size data alone.
Supporting Evidence
- Experimental data shows fluctuations in gene activity confirm that gene expression is a noisy process.
- The burst size distribution is always geometric and determined by a single parameter.
- Different combinations of biochemical rates can lead to the same observed burst size distribution.
Takeaway
Genes can be noisy, meaning they don't always produce the same amount of protein. This study found that we can't tell where this noise comes from just by looking at how much protein is made in bursts.
Methodology
Theoretical derivation of probability distributions for protein burst sizes based on various gene expression models.
Limitations
The study cannot identify the relative contributions of transcription and translation to noise using burst size data alone.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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