Abstract

Circuitry governing cell cycle progression in the gram negative class of Alphaproteobacteria shows remarkable complexity and an intricacy of negative and positive feedbacks loops. In the lab of E. Biondi two model systems are equally studied, that share most of the cell cycle regulators, but the architecture of the cell cycle networks differs. This opens crucial biological questions, such as why the two models are different in their regulatory architecture, and what are the reasons for the differences. In collaboration with Brigitte Mossé of the team MABioS headed by E. Remy , we propose a PhD project that has the ambition to model the cell cycle circuit, on the basis of the deep knowledge accumulated over the years in the Biondi lab, and to restructure the architecture of both systems, in order to recapitulate their own behaviors. To assemble chimeric modules taking inspiration from the natural ones, and to describe the global dynamics with the so called logical formalism, should give a better comprehension of the two bacterial systems of regulation.