Uncovering bifurcation behaviors of biochemical reaction systems from network topology

Abstract The regulation of biological functions is achieved through the modulation of biochemical reaction network dynamics. The diversity of cell states and the transitions between them have been interpreted as bifurcations in these dynamics. However, due to the complexity of networks and limited k...

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Main Authors: Yong-Jin Huang, Takashi Okada, Atsushi Mochizuki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10688-6
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author Yong-Jin Huang
Takashi Okada
Atsushi Mochizuki
author_facet Yong-Jin Huang
Takashi Okada
Atsushi Mochizuki
author_sort Yong-Jin Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The regulation of biological functions is achieved through the modulation of biochemical reaction network dynamics. The diversity of cell states and the transitions between them have been interpreted as bifurcations in these dynamics. However, due to the complexity of networks and limited knowledge of reaction kinetics, bifurcation behaviors in biological systems remain largely underexplored. To address this, we developed a mathematical method, Structural Bifurcation Analysis (SBA), which decomposes the system into substructures and determines important aspects of bifurcation behaviors—such as substructures responsible for bifurcation conditions, bifurcation-inducing parameters, and bifurcating variables—solely from network topology. We establish a direct relationship between SBA and classical bifurcation analysis, enabling the study of systems even in the presence of conserved quantities. Additionally, we provide a step-by-step bifurcation analysis for general use. We applied our method to the macrophage M1/M2 polarization system. Our analysis reveals that the network structure strongly constrains possible patterns of polarization. We also clarify the dependency of the M1/M2 balance on gene expression levels and predict the emergence of intermediate polarization patterns under gene deletions, including SOCS3, which are experimentally testable.
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spelling doaj-art-bbcf7f15cce34647acab3d979dcadfdc2025-08-20T03:05:25ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-10688-6Uncovering bifurcation behaviors of biochemical reaction systems from network topologyYong-Jin Huang0Takashi Okada1Atsushi Mochizuki2Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto UniversityInstitute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto UniversityInstitute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto UniversityAbstract The regulation of biological functions is achieved through the modulation of biochemical reaction network dynamics. The diversity of cell states and the transitions between them have been interpreted as bifurcations in these dynamics. However, due to the complexity of networks and limited knowledge of reaction kinetics, bifurcation behaviors in biological systems remain largely underexplored. To address this, we developed a mathematical method, Structural Bifurcation Analysis (SBA), which decomposes the system into substructures and determines important aspects of bifurcation behaviors—such as substructures responsible for bifurcation conditions, bifurcation-inducing parameters, and bifurcating variables—solely from network topology. We establish a direct relationship between SBA and classical bifurcation analysis, enabling the study of systems even in the presence of conserved quantities. Additionally, we provide a step-by-step bifurcation analysis for general use. We applied our method to the macrophage M1/M2 polarization system. Our analysis reveals that the network structure strongly constrains possible patterns of polarization. We also clarify the dependency of the M1/M2 balance on gene expression levels and predict the emergence of intermediate polarization patterns under gene deletions, including SOCS3, which are experimentally testable.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10688-6
spellingShingle Yong-Jin Huang
Takashi Okada
Atsushi Mochizuki
Uncovering bifurcation behaviors of biochemical reaction systems from network topology
Scientific Reports
title Uncovering bifurcation behaviors of biochemical reaction systems from network topology
title_full Uncovering bifurcation behaviors of biochemical reaction systems from network topology
title_fullStr Uncovering bifurcation behaviors of biochemical reaction systems from network topology
title_full_unstemmed Uncovering bifurcation behaviors of biochemical reaction systems from network topology
title_short Uncovering bifurcation behaviors of biochemical reaction systems from network topology
title_sort uncovering bifurcation behaviors of biochemical reaction systems from network topology
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10688-6
work_keys_str_mv AT yongjinhuang uncoveringbifurcationbehaviorsofbiochemicalreactionsystemsfromnetworktopology
AT takashiokada uncoveringbifurcationbehaviorsofbiochemicalreactionsystemsfromnetworktopology
AT atsushimochizuki uncoveringbifurcationbehaviorsofbiochemicalreactionsystemsfromnetworktopology