Berlin 2015 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 34: Statistical Physics of Biological Systems II (joint BP/DY/CPP)
BP 34.4: Talk
Wednesday, March 18, 2015, 10:15–10:30, H 1028
Stochastic Dynamics of IFN Type I Signaling — •Nikolas Schnellbächer1,2, Nils Becker3, Thomas Höfer3, and Ulrich Schwarz1,2 — 1Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany — 2BioQuant, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany — 3German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
The signaling molecules interferon (IFN) of type I are secreted by many nucleated cells to signal the presence of an intracellular viral infection to their environment and to inhibit viral replication. Once in the extracellular environment, they bind to a heterodimeric cell surface receptor (IFNAR = Interferon Alpha Receptor) to form an active ternary signaling complex, which then triggers an intracellular response. The most prominent pathway activated by interferons is the canonical JAK/STAT signaling pathway, where STAT molecules dock at the receptor associated Janus kinases (JAKs) at their cytoplasmic domains.
A central question of this system is to explain the differential information processing of different interferons through the same transmembrane receptor system. Moreover notoriously low copy numbers of the receptors on the cell surface are a typical cause for a high degree of intrinsic stochasticity. We use stochastic computer simulations to analyze the activation dynamics in space and time. In particular we investigate spatial effects on the dose response behavior of the IFN type I signaling system.