Robustness analysis of the E.coli chemosensory system to perturbations in chemoattractant concentrations

摘要

Motivation: Cells of Escherichia coli sense and move toward chemical attractants. This is done through an intricate sensory system that eventually directs the movements of flagellae which regulate the ‘runs’ and ‘tumbles’ of the cells. Under realistic conditions, chemical stimuli often fluctuate due to noise from the environment. The effect of noise on the chemosensory system has been investigated here through the sensitivity coefficients of the concentrations of four key proteins—the phosphorylated forms of CheA, CheB and CheY, and the FliM-CheY～P complex—that govern chemotactic motility. The letter P denotes phosphorylation.