Modeling of gene regulatory processes by population-mediated signaling: New applications of population balances

Population balance modeling is considered for cell populations in gene regulatory processes in which one or more intracellular variables undergo stochastic dynamics as determined by Ito stochastic differential equations. This paper addresses formulation and computational issues with sample applications to the spread of drug resistance among bacterial cells. It is shown that predictions from population balances can display qualitative differences from those made with single cell models which are usually encountered in the literature. Such differences are deemed to be important.

► We formulate a population balance model with stochastic gene regulation. ► We show how to eliminate spatio-temporal dependence of averaged kinetic parameters. ► Both cell growth and conjugation are taken into consideration with PBM. ► We resolve the connection between bistability and bimodal distribution.