49 research outputs found
Stochastic approach to molecular interactions and computational theory of metabolic and genetic regulations
Binding and unbinding of ligands to specific sites of a macromolecule are one
of the most elementary molecular interactions inside the cell that embody the
computational processes of biological regulations. The interaction between
transcription factors and the operators of genes and that between ligands and
binding sites of allosteric enzymes are typical examples of such molecular
interactions. In order to obtain the general mathematical framework of
biological regulations, we formulate these interactions as finite Markov
processes and establish a computational theory of regulatory activities of
macromolecules based mainly on graphical analysis of their state transition
diagrams. The contribution is summarized as follows: (1) Stochastic
interpretation of Michaelis-Menten equation is given. (2) Notion of
\textit{probability flow} is introduced in relation to detailed balance. (3) A
stochastic analogy of \textit{Wegscheider condition} is given in relation to
loops in the state transition diagram. (4) A simple graphical method of
computing the regulatory activity in terms of ligands' concentrations is
obtained for Wegscheider cases.Comment: 20 pages, 13 figure
Compact boson stars in K field theories
We study a scalar field theory with a non-standard kinetic term minimally
coupled to gravity. We establish the existence of compact boson stars, that is,
static solutions with compact support of the full system with self-gravitation
taken into account. Concretely, there exist two types of solutions, namely
compact balls on the one hand, and compact shells on the other hand. The
compact balls have a naked singularity at the center. The inner boundary of the
compact shells is singular, as well, but it is, at the same time, a Killing
horizon. These singular, compact shells therefore resemble black holes.Comment: Latex, 45 pages, 25 figures, some references and comments adde
On membrane diffusion with near-equilibrium reaction
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/32779/1/0000152.pd