PNNL

Abstract

The integration of experimental measurements and computational predictions is a powerful means to understand the molecular mechanisms of complex biological systems. The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) system is an intricately regulated system that plays critical roles in development and tumorigenesis. Here, we apply integrated experimentation and modeling to analyze HER receptor activation in a panel of cell lines expressing different levels of HER1 and HER2. A mathematical model that includes the fundamental biochemical/biophysical processes involved in receptor activation was used to fit the experimental data, and 19 independent parameters including receptor dimerization affinities, trafficking rates and relative phosphorylation levels were estimated. The parameter values quantitatively support existing ideas on the effect of HER2 on HER1 phosphorylation dynamics, and enable us to predict receptor dimerization patterns in the cell lines. The integrated approach described here can be applied to obtain a predictive understanding of other biomolecular systems.