BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Dissecting the dynamics of transcriptional regulatory networks - D
 r. Madan Babu (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology\, Division of Structura
 l Studies)
DTSTART:20081023T083000Z
DTEND:20081023T085500Z
UID:TALK13227@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Duncan Simpson
DESCRIPTION:There has been a recent surge of interest in uncovering the or
 ganizing principles of biological systems ranging from signalling to neuro
 nal networks. While advances in this direction have largely focused on und
 erstanding how topological properties and network organization characteriz
 e complex biological systems\, the dynamics of the underlying entities (i.
 e.\, nodes in the network) and their role in systems behavior remain poorl
 y understood. In this presentation\, I will describe our recent work inves
 tigating the genome-scale dynamics of the transcriptional regulatory netwo
 rk in yeast. In particular\, by integrating the information on the hierarc
 hical organization of transcription factors in the network with diverse da
 tasets that characterize the dynamics of transcription\, translation and n
 oise in gene expression\, we identify general principles of transcriptiona
 l network dynamics. We suggest that the interplay between the inherent hie
 rarchy of the network and the dynamics of the transcription factors are cr
 itical for making the transcription network both robust and adaptable. In 
 addition\, we observe that the expression levels of key transcription fact
 ors are variable (noisy) between individuals in a population of cells. Suc
 h behaviour may be advantageous as it may permit differential utilization 
 of the same underlying network in distinct members of a population. We ant
 icipate that many of the concepts presented here will apply to other biolo
 gical networks\, including complex sub-systems in higher eukaryotes.
LOCATION:Kaetsu Centre\, New Hall
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR