Collective Oscillations in Coupled-Cell Systems

We investigate oscillations in coupled systems. The methodology is based on the Hopf bifurcation theorem and a condition extended from the Routh–Hurwitz criterion. Such a condition leads to locating the bifurcation values of the parameters. With such an approach, we analyze a single-cell system modeling the minimal genetic negative feedback loop and the coupled-cell system composed by these single-cell systems. We study the oscillatory properties for these systems and compare these properties between the model with Hill-type repression and the one with protein-sequestration-based repression. As the parameters move from the Hopf bifurcation value for single cells to the one for coupled cells, we compute the eigenvalues of the linearized systems to obtain the magnitude of the collective frequency when the periodic solution of the coupled-cell system is generated. Extending from this information on the parameter values, we further compute and compare the collective frequency for the coupled-cell system and the average frequency of the decoupled individual cells. To compare these scenarios with other biological oscillators, we perform parallel analysis and computations on a segmentation clock model.

Characterization of fundamental networks

In the framework of coupled cell systems, a coupled cell network describes graphically the dynamical dependencies between individual dynamical systems, the cells. The fundamental network of a network reveals the hidden symmetries of that network. Subspaces defined by equalities of coordinates which are flow-invariant for any coupled cell system consistent with a network structure are called the network synchrony subspaces. Moreover, for every synchrony subspace, each network admissible system restricted to that subspace is a dynamical system consistent with a smaller network called a quotient network. We characterize networks such that: the network is a subnetwork of its fundamental network, and the network is a fundamental network. Moreover, we prove that the fundamental network construction preserves the quotient relation and it transforms the subnetwork relation into the quotient relation. The size of cycles in a network and the distance of a cell to a cycle are two important properties concerning the description of the network architecture. In this paper, we relate these two architectural properties in a network and its fundamental network.

SYNCHRONY-BREAKING HOPF BIFURCATION IN A MODEL OF ANTIGENIC VARIATION

In this paper, we will analyze the bifurcation dynamics of an in vivo model of Plasmodium falciparum. The main attention of this model is focused on the dynamics of cross-reactivity from antigenic variation. We apply the techniques of coupled cell systems to study this model. It is shown that synchrony-breaking Hopf bifurcation occurs from a nontrivial synchronous equilibrium. In proving the existence of a Hopf bifurcation, we also discover the condition under which possible 2-color synchrony patterns arise from the bifurcation. The dynamics resulting from the bifurcation are qualitatively similar to known behavior of antigenic variation. These results are discussed and illustrated with specific examples and numerical simulations.

SYNCHRONOUS/ASYNCHRONOUS PATTERNS IN THREE-CELL NETWORKS WITH MULTIPLE TIME DELAYS

Some patterns of synchrony/asynchrony in the dynamics of coupled cell systems can be predicted by symmetry. However, in the system without symmetry, the different patterns of periodic solutions may exist as well. We consider a general model including three cells with multiple time delays that connect in any possible manner. Our approach is based on the analytic construction by using a perturbation procedure together with the Fredholm alternative theory. Then we employ the Poincaré–Lindstedt series expansion to compute the Floquet exponents which determine the stability. Finally, we resort to numerical computation to get some insights about the leading term in the Floquet exponents, and the numerical simulations are given to confirm the theoretical results.