Input-output behavior of ErbB signaling pathways as revealed by a mass action model trained against dynamic data.

TitleInput-output behavior of ErbB signaling pathways as revealed by a mass action model trained against dynamic data.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsChen, WW, Schoeberl, B, Jasper, PJ, Niepel, M, Nielsen, UB, Lauffenburger, DA, Sorger, PK
JournalMol Syst Biol
Volume5
Pagination239
Date Published2009
ISSN1744-4292
KeywordsKinetics, MAP Kinase Signaling System, Oncogene Proteins v-erbB, Sensitivity and Specificity, Signal Transduction
Abstract

The ErbB signaling pathways, which regulate diverse physiological responses such as cell survival, proliferation and motility, have been subjected to extensive molecular analysis. Nonetheless, it remains poorly understood how different ligands induce different responses and how this is affected by oncogenic mutations. To quantify signal flow through ErbB-activated pathways we have constructed, trained and analyzed a mass action model of immediate-early signaling involving ErbB1-4 receptors (EGFR, HER2/Neu2, ErbB3 and ErbB4), and the MAPK and PI3K/Akt cascades. We find that parameter sensitivity is strongly dependent on the feature (e.g. ERK or Akt activation) or condition (e.g. EGF or heregulin stimulation) under examination and that this context dependence is informative with respect to mechanisms of signal propagation. Modeling predicts log-linear amplification so that significant ERK and Akt activation is observed at ligand concentrations far below the K(d) for receptor binding. However, MAPK and Akt modules isolated from the ErbB model continue to exhibit switch-like responses. Thus, key system-wide features of ErbB signaling arise from nonlinear interaction among signaling elements, the properties of which appear quite different in context and in isolation.

DOI10.1038/msb.2008.74
Alternate JournalMol. Syst. Biol.
PubMed ID19156131
PubMed Central IDPMC2644173
Grant ListCA112967 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
GM68762 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
P50 GM068762-06 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States

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