N. A. Ri, T. M. Khlebodarova, V. V. Kogai, S. I. Fadeev, V. A. Likhoshvai, “The bistability of nitrite utilization by <i>Escherichia coli</i>: analysis of the mathematical model”, Sib. Zh. Ind. Mat., 2012, Volume 15, Number 4,Pages <nobr>110

The bistability of nitrite utilization by Escherichia coli: analysis of the mathematical model

N. A. Ri^a, T. M. Khlebodarova^a, V. V. Kogai^bc, S. I. Fadeev^cb, V. A. Likhoshvai^ac

^a Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
^b Sobolev Institute of Mathematics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
^c Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia

Abstract: A mathematical model describing nitrite utilization by E. coli cells grown in a flow chemostat is analyzed. The system is of interest from the standpoint of the analysis of the mechanisms by which a cell utilizes toxic substrates in respiration. It is demonstrated that the system admits the appearance of two stationary nitrite concentrations; thus, it becomes bistable. The range of nitrite supply rate into the chemostat for which the model is bistable is determined. The model predicts the possibility of spontaneous death of the culture in transition between the stationary states.

Keywords: gene expression regulation, Escherichia coli, anaerobic respiration, modeling, bistability.

UDC: 519.62+577.218+57.017.723+004.94+57+51

Received: 29.06.2012