Lyman Handy Colloquium Series

Elucidating the Control Mechanism for DNA damage repair with the p53-Mdm2 system:
Single Cell Data Analysis and Ensemble Modeling The p53-Mdm2 system, which plays a crucial role in DNA damage repair, is one of the best-studied of the "negative feedback motifs" known to be present in human cells (see for example, Piette, et al, 1997; Vogelstein et al, 2000; and Michael and Oren, 2003). Such studies typically involve perturbing cell populations with appropriate stimuli and monitoring total population response with immunoblots. Often such measurements of ensemble behavior are sufficient for understanding the molecular mechanism underlying the phenomenon in question. In the case of DNA damage repair using the p53-Mdm2 system however, Lahav et al, (2004), recently published experimental evidence that the dynamic behavior of the ensemble is fundamentally different from that of individual cells, creating a dilemma about the underlying control system mechanism.

Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Petra Pearce Sapir