Sep
21
Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 12:00 p.m.
BA6183
MSc Candidate: Turner Silverthorne
Supervisor: Adam Stinchcombe
Thesis title: A mathematical model of promoter methylation in the circadian clock
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Living systems use genetic networks to produce complex dynamics necessary for survival. Examples include limit-cycle oscillations, bistable switching, and the attenuation of molecular noise. The mammalian circadian clock is a particularly interesting example, consisting of two interacting genetic feedback loops that achieve a delicate balance between robustness and plasticity.
The clock’s period (it’s most important output) is vital for normal biological function, and regulated by a variety of factors. Recent experiments have provided strong evidence that DNA methylation plays a role in controlling the period of the circadian clock. The connections between epigenetic factors (such as DNA methylation) and the circadian clock are multifaceted and poorly understood. In this thesis, I investigate epigenetic regulation of the circadian clock from a mathematical perspective.
Building on an earlier model of the primary feedback loop in the circadian clock, we add a layer of epigenetic regulation. From this extended model, we derive a perturbative estimate of the clock’s period that quantifies the influence of DNA methylation. We then use timescale separation arguments to derive an approximate model with the structure of a monotone cyclic feedback system. Such systems obey a generalization of the Poincaré-Bendixson theorem and hence have a relatively-tame bifurcation theory. Using our reduced model, we show that methylation can induce Hopf bifurcations, alter the period, and remove bistability. Together, our analysis of the reduced and full model add a new perspective to epigenetic regulation of one of the most important biological oscillators: the circadian clock.
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A copy of the thesis can be found here: masters_thesis_silverthorne
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