Noise or fluctuations or cell-to-cell variability commonly occurs during cytokine
signaling. Noise that propagates along with the signal is processed by the biochemical
networks, whose components such as proteins fluctuate. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)
is an important cytokine that is involved in mammalian innate and adaptive immune
regulation. Dysregulation and overproduction of TNFα have been implicated in many
human diseases. Signal transduction, that is a series of molecular events in immune cells
triggered by TNFα is known to be both pro-apoptotic and pro-survival. The goal of this
project is to study the role of cytokine fluctuation propagation on the pro-apoptotic and
pro-survival responses triggered by TNFα. This study will involve high-throughput
experimentation using a model mammalian cell line. This project will be predominantly
experimental.