Numeric simulation of plant signaling networks

Plants have evolved an intricate signaling apparatus that integrates releva nt information and allows an optimal response to environmental conditions. For instance, the coordination of defense responses against pathogens invol ves sophisticated molecular detection and communication systems. Multiple p rotection strategies may be deployed differentially by the plant according to the nature of the invading organism. These responses are also influenced by the environment, metabolism, and developmental stage of the plant. Thou gh the cellular signaling processes traditionally have been described as li near sequences of events, it is now evident that they may be represented mo re accurately as network-like structures. The emerging paradigm can be repr esented readily with the use of Boolean language. This digital (numeric) fo rmalism allows an accurate qualitative description of the signal transducti on processes, and a dynamic representation through computer simulation. Mor eover, it provides the required power to process the increasing amount of i nformation emerging from the fields of genomics and proteomics, and from th e use of new technologies such as microarray analysis. In this review, we h ave used the Boolean language to represent and analyze part of the signalin g network of disease resistance in Arabidopsis.