TY - JOUR A2 - Babiloni, Fabio AU - Hinze, Thomas AU - Schumann, Mathias AU - Bodenstein, Christian AU - Heiland, Ines AU - Schuster, Stefan PY - 2011 DA - 2011/10/20 TI - Biochemical Frequency Control by Synchronisation of Coupled Repressilators: AnIn SilicoStudy of Modules for Circadian Clock Systems SP - 262189 VL - 2011 AB - Exploration of chronobiological systems emerges as a growing research field within bioinformatics focusing on various applications in medicine, agriculture, and material sciences. From a systems biological perspective, the question arises whether biological control systems for regulation of oscillatory signals and their technical counterparts utilise similar mechanisms. If so, modelling approaches and parameterisation adopted from building blocks can help to identify general components for frequency control in circadian clocks along with gaining insight into mechanisms of clock synchronisation to external stimuli like the daily rhythm of sunlight and darkness. Phase-locked loops could be an interesting candidate in this context. Both, biology and engineering, can benefit from a unified view resulting from systems modularisation. In a first experimental study, we analyse a model of coupled repressilators. We demonstrate its ability to synchronise clock signals in a monofrequential manner. Several oscillators initially deviate in phase difference and frequency with respect to explicit reaction and diffusion rates. Accordingly, the duration of the synchronisation process depends on dedicated reaction and diffusion parameters whose settings still lack to be sufficiently captured analytically. SN - 1687-5265 UR - https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/262189 DO - 10.1155/2011/262189 JF - Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience PB - Hindawi Publishing Corporation KW - ER -