Complex behaviour of the repressible operon

The repressor-mediated repression process in bacteria is modelled using a gene-enzyme-endproduct control unit. A combined analytical-numerical study shows that the system, though stable normally, becomes unstable for super-repressing strains even at low values of the cooperativity of repression, provided demand for the endproduct saturates at large endproduct concentrations. In addition the system also shows bistability, i.e., the co-existence of a stable steady-state and a stable limit cycle. The tryptophan operon is used as a model system and the results are discussed in the light of differential regulation of gene expression in lower organisms, especially in mutant strains.