Modeling

Overview

1.Gene Expression Dynamics

Analysis of the problem

The symbol declaration is:

Finally, we assigned each process with a reaction rate constant.

How did we build it?

Figure1: The diagram of reactions was designed in the SimBiology toolbox for MATLAB.

What did it show?

• Before running the model, we had to decide on how the hypoxia response element affects gene expression The pCMV promoter (distincted from HRE) expressed approximately 0.15 nM and the [HRE- pCMV] complex expressed 1.86 nM of luciferase in 12 hours. In our simulations, we show that adding hypoxia response element in our promoter design increases the protein expression approximately 20 times more in hypoxic conditions.

• This data was then used to design an experiment that could be performed in the lab to verify the model. You can visit our results page to see the comparison.

İf we are to compare our modeling results (which appoints that the activity of luciferase will increase in hypoxic condition according to the parameters collected from literature research) with our experimental results, we can say that they are rising in a close manner of proportion. According to our modelling results, the minimal increase in our wet lab can be for the following reasons: Cell cultures exposed to hypoxic conditions in eukaryotic cells die because of failing to produce luciferase. The reversable mechanisms (feed back regulation mechanisms) which form the cell-life balance cannot function in hypoxic conditions therefore ,decreasing the speed rate of dependent enzymes and transcription factors. As an example, hıf1alph involved in the regulation of the operation of prolyl hydroxilase can be shown which changes according to the level of oxygen ( 1)]

2. The gene expression dynamics of TetR – VP16 system by adding oxygen dependent domain (ODD)

• The main goal of this part, being sensitive of TetR – VP16 system to hypoxia. In order to achieve this, ODD added between TetR and VP16 components.In this way, TetR-ODD-VP16 complex can only initiate the transcription of only weak promoter in hypoxic conditions because of the degradation of the complex by proteasome in oxygen presence. By using this system, we created a novel true/ false mechanism which triggers protein synthesis dependent on oxygen by modifying that has already present pTRE-Tet Off system.
• In order to realize how our system will work. We try to calculate how the protein synthesis will effect under different concentration of O2 at the TetR - ODD - VP16 system.
• Using the SimBiology toolbox for Matlab we created a framework of the pTRE-Tet Off System (Figure 2).

The symbol decleration is:

• After creating the basic framework for the model we needed to create mathematical equations for each reaction with appropriate rate constants. These equations and the corresponding values are shown below in Tables 3 and 4

What did it show???

• After modified the TetR-VP16 system by adding ODD, we try to realize how our designed sytem will work under hypoxic and normoxic conditions. In normoxic condition, PDH is activated and hydroxylated the TetR-ODD-VP16 system, luciferase expression decreases.
• In our model approach, we showed that luciferase expression increased %10 after exposed to 1nM O2 compared to 100 nM O2 concentration.

Modelling Results

Experimental Results:

• We reached expected result in wet lab for HEK293 cell line. However, after we used HEPG2 cell line for this system, we had more reliable result about hydroxylation of ODD. The reason of this can be about life time of cells under hypoxia, because it will affect amount of PHD that enter nucleus during normoxia /hypoxia.

3.The gene expression dynamics of NFKB

Firstly, we built a model to help understand the gene expression dynamics of the whole circuit. In our promoter design, we added NFKB response element to upstream of the gene. During reperfusion, ROS increases. We assumed that this situation triggers the import of NFKB from cytoplasm to nucleus. Then, NF-kB integrates with compatible kB-RE sites in order to initiate transcription. We try to understand how this system effect of protein synthesis.

Then we wrote down the four chemical reactions in represent of each process.

Using the SimBiology toolbox for Matlab we created a framework of the NFKB system (Figure 1).

(Figure 1:)Diagram of reactions was created in the SimBiology toolbox for MATLAB.

What did it show???

The effect of increasing ROS concentration on NFKB-KBRE association was changed and this situation triggers the import of NFKB from cytoplasm to nucleus. Therefore, protein expression of increases 2 times during reperfusion.

In the experimental results showed that adding H2O2 to HEK293 cells induced protein expression 2 times. Also, this result verify with modeling that designed the situation in reperfusion injury.

"HIF protein was rapidly and transiently stabilised at 3% and more at 1% oxygen tensions" Liu, Y. V., Baek, J. H., Zhang, H., Diez, R., Cole, R. N. and Semenza, G. L.(2007). RACK1 competes with HSP90 for binding to HIF-1alpha and is required for O(2)-independent and HSP90 inhibitor-induced degradation of HIF-1alpha. Mol. Cell25, 207-217