Petri net based modelling and simulation of p16-Cdk4/6-Rb pathway

Abstract

Tumor suppressor gene p16 is of utmost interest in investigation of signal transduction pathways due to its gatekeeper role at the G1/S checkpoint of the cell cycle. Defects in p16 result in uncontrolled cell division which leads to progression of malignancy in an organism. In the present research we focus on p16-Cdk4/6-Rb pathway which is a cornerstone of G1 phase of the cell cycle. We implement Pet net formalism and Cell Illustrator software tool to create model of p16-Cdk4/6-Rb pathway and perform a series of simulations to validate the model.