Dynamic behavior in mathematical models of the tryptophan operon

This paper surveys the general theory of operon regulation as first formula ted by Goodwin and Griffith, and then goes on to consider in detail models of regulation of tryptophan production by Bliss, Sinha, and Santillan and M ackey, and the interrelationships between them. We further give a linear st ability analysis of the Santillan and Mackey model for wild type E. coli as well as three different mutant strains that have been previously studied i n the literature. This stability analysis indicates that the tryptophan pro duction systems should be stable, which is in accord with our numerical res ults. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.