Optimal Control of Gene Mutation in DNA Replication

[摘要] We propose a molecular-level control system view of the gene mutations inDNA replication from the finite field concept. By treating DNA sequences as state variables,chemical mutagens and radiation as control inputs, one cell cycle as a step increment, and themeasurements of the resulting DNA sequence as outputs, we derive system equations for bothdeterministic and stochastic discrete-time, finite-state systems of different scales. Defining thecost function as a summation of the costs of applying mutagens and the off-trajectory penalty,we solve the deterministic and stochastic optimal control problems by dynamic programmingalgorithm. In addition, given that the system is completely controllable, we find that theglobal optimum of both base-to-base and codon-to-codon deterministic mutations can alwaysbe achieved within a finite number of steps.

[学科分类] 基础医学