On the effect of circadian oscillations on biochemical cell signaling by NF-κB

Abstract

We report the results of a numerical investigation of a mathematical model for NF-κB oscillations, described by a set of ordinary nonlinear differential equations, when perturbed by a circadian oscillation. The main result is that a circadian rhythm, even when it represents a weak perturbation, enhances the signaling capabilities of NF-κB oscillations. This is done by turning rest states into periodic oscillations, and periodic oscillations into quasiperiodic oscillations. Strong perturbations result in complex periodic oscillations and even in chaos. Circadian rhythms would then result in a NF-κB dynamics that is more complex than the simple oscillations and rest states, initially reported for this model. This renders it more amenable for information coding.

Keywords: Circadian clock; Computational biology; Quasiperiodic motion; Signaling pathway; Spectral analysis.