Stability analysis of biological systems with real solution classification

Abstract

This paper presents a new and general approach for analyzing the stability of a large class of biological networks, modeled as autonomous systems of differential equations, using real solving and solution classification. The proposed approach, based on the classical technique of linearization from the qualitative theory of ordinary differential equations yet with exact symbolic computation, is applied to analyzing the local stability of the Cdc2-cyclin B/Wee1 system and the Mos/MEK/p42 MAPK cascade, two well-known models for cell and protein signaling that have been studied extensively in the literature. We provide rigorous proofs and generalizations for some of the previous results established experimentally and report our new findings.