A Structural Analysis of the Qualitative Networks Regulating the Cell Cycle and Apoptosis

This paper proposes an integration and modular organization of the complex regulatory networks involved in the mammalian cell cycle, apoptosis, and related intracellular signaling cascades. A common node linking the cell cycle and apoptosis permits the possibility of coordinate control between the initiation of these two cellular processes. From this node, pathways emanate that lead to the activation of cyclin-dependent kinases (in the cell cycle) and caspases (in apoptosis). Computer simulations are carried out to demonstrate that the proposed network architecture and certain module-module interactions can account for the experimentally observed sequence of cellular events (quiescence, cell cycle, and apoptosis) as the transcriptional activities of E2F-1 and c-Myc are increased. Despite the lack of quantitative kinetic data on most of the pathways, it is demonstrated that there can be meaningful conclusions regarding system stability that arise from the topology of the network. It is shown that only cycles in the network graph determine stability. Thus, several positive and negative feedback loops are identified from a literature review of the major pathways involved in the initiation of the cell cycle and of apoptosis.