A MATHEMATICAL-MODEL OF THE HSP70 REGULATION IN THE CELL

A mathematical model of the regulation process of the heat shock prote in hsp70 in the cell is presented. The model describes the damaging ef fect of elevated temperature on proteins; the interaction of free hsp7 0 with injured proteins and its chaperone role in nascent protein tran slation; the relation between the amount of free hsp70 and the formati on of the activated trimer form of the heat shock factor protein (HSF) ; the binding of activated HSF with the heat shock elements on the DNA ; the transcription of mRNA of hsp70 and the synthesis of hsp70. The r eaction of the model to a temporal rise in temperature shows an initia l decline and a subsequent sharp rise to an ultimately increased level of free hsp70 in the cell. The response of the model to both a single and two consecutive heat shocks appears to closely resemble experimen tal data on hsp70 synthesis. This general agreement demonstrates the s tructure of the model to be sound and suitable as a basis for further modelling the complex tolerance mechanism of the cell.