Sequence dependent properties of the expression dynamics of genes and gene networks

Abstract

The sequence of a gene determines the protein sequence and structure, but to some extent also the kinetics of protein production. Namely, the DNA and the codon sequence affect the kinetics of transcription and translation elongation, respectively. Here, using a stochastic model of transcription and translation at the nucleotide and codon levels, we investigate the effects of the codon sequence on the dynamics of single gene expression and of a genetic switch. We find that the ribosome binding site region sequence affects mean expression rates. In the genetic toggle switch, the sequence is shown to affect the switching frequency. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.