Modeling the control of cell growth

Abstract

Cell growth and proliferation are biological phenomena that have not yet been explained. This paper shows how models of the biochemical processes involved can be used both to interpret existing data and to design new experiments. A model is presented that divides the cell into two subsystems: one that synthesizes ribosomes and proteins and a second that performs DNA replication and cell division. Data obtained by simulation, as well as the analytical solution of the model equations, indicate that it is the activity of the first subsystem (the one whose state variables are ribosomes and proteins) and not that of the subsystem that limits the rate of cell proliferation.