Optimal parameter settings for information processing in gene regulatory networks

Gene networks can often be interpreted as computational circuits. This article investigates the computational properties of gene regulatory networks defined in terms of the speed and the accuracy of the output of a gene network. It will be shown that there is no single optimal set of parameters, but instead, there is a trade-off between speed and accuracy. Using the trade-off it will also be shown how systems with various parameters can be ranked with respect to their computational efficiency. Numerical analysis suggests that the trade-off can be improved when the output gene is repressing itself, even though the accuracy or the speed of the auto-regulated system may be worse than the unregulated system. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.