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PMID: 18957198 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Review

Nature, nurture, or chance: stochastic gene expression and its consequences.

Cell ·Vol. 135 ·No. 2 ·2008-10-17 ·Pages 216-26

Raj A, van Oudenaarden A

Abstract

Gene expression is a fundamentally stochastic process, with randomness in transcription and translation leading to cell-to-cell variations in mRNA and protein levels. This variation appears in organisms ranging from microbes to metazoans, and its characteristics depend both on the biophysical parameters governing gene expression and on gene network structure. Stochastic gene expression has important consequences for cellular function, being beneficial in some contexts and harmful in others. These situations include the stress response, metabolism, development, the cell cycle, circadian rhythms, and aging.

MeSH Terms
Animals Bacteria/metabolism Eukaryotic Cells/metabolism Gene Expression Humans Stochastic Processes Transcription, Genetic
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Raj Arjun
Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
van Oudenaarden Alexander
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Article Info
Journal
Cell
Abbr.
Cell
ISSN
1097-4172
DOI
10.1016/j.cell.2008.09.050
Published
2008-10-17
Pages
216-26
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
0413066
PMCID
PMC3118044
Subset
IM
Grants
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01-GM077183 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM077183 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM068957 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM077183-03 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01-GM068957 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM068957-07 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2008.09.050 PMC Full Text View journal details
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