@article {2013, title = {Common dynamical features of sensory adaptation in photoreceptors and olfactory sensory neurons.}, journal = {Nature. Scientific Reports 3, Article number: 1251, Published : 13 February 2013}, year = {2013}, publisher = {SISSA}, abstract = {

Sensory systems adapt, i.e., they adjust their sensitivity to external stimuli according to the ambient level. In this paper we show that single cell electrophysiological responses of vertebrate olfactory receptors and of photoreceptors to different input protocols exhibit several common features related to adaptation, and that these features can be used to investigate the dynamical structure of the feedback regulation responsible for the adaptation. In particular, we point out that two different forms of adaptation can be observed, in response to steps and to pairs of pulses. These two forms of adaptation appear to be in a dynamical trade-off: the more adaptation to a step is close to perfect, the slower is the recovery in adaptation to pulse pairs and viceversa. Neither of the two forms is explained by the dynamical models currently used to describe adaptation, such as the integral feedback model.

}, doi = {10.1038/srep01251}, author = {Giovanna De Palo and Giuseppe Facchetti and Monica Mazzolini and Anna Menini and Vincent Torre and Claudio Altafini} } @article {2012, title = {A dynamical feedback model for adaptation in the olfactory transduction pathway}, journal = {Biophysical Journal. Volume 102, Issue 12, 20 June 2012, Pages 2677-2686}, number = {PMID:22735517;}, year = {2012}, publisher = {Biophysical Society, Elsevier}, abstract = {Olfactory transduction exhibits two distinct types of adaptation, which we denote multipulse and step adaptation. In terms of measured transduction current, multipulse adaptation appears as a decrease in the amplitude of the second of two consecutive responses when the olfactory neuron is stimulated with two brief pulses. Step adaptation occurs in response to a sustained steplike stimulation and is characterized by a return to a steady-state current amplitude close to the prestimulus value, after a transient peak. In this article, we formulate a dynamical model of the olfactory transduction pathway, which includes the kinetics of the CNG channels, the concentration of Ca ions flowing through them, and the Ca-complexes responsible for the regulation. Based on this model, a common dynamical explanation for the two types of adaptation is suggested. We show that both forms of adaptation can be well described using different time constants for the kinetics of Ca ions (faster) and the kinetics of the feedback mechanisms (slower). The model is validated on experimental data collected in voltage-clamp conditions using different techniques and animal species.}, doi = {10.1016/j.bpj.2012.04.040}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/7019}, author = {Giovanna De Palo and Anna Boccaccio and Andrew Miri and Anna Menini and Claudio Altafini} } @article {2011, title = {Adaptation as a genome-wide autoregulatory principle in the stress response of yeast.}, journal = {IET systems biology. 2011 Jul; 5(4):269-79}, number = {PMID:21823758;}, year = {2011}, publisher = {The Institution of Engineering and Technology}, abstract = {The gene expression response of yeast to various types of stresses/perturbations shows a common functional and dynamical pattern for the vast majority of genes, characterised by a quick transient peak (affecting primarily short genes) followed by a return to the pre-stimulus level. Kinetically, this process of adaptation following the transient excursion can be modelled using a genome-wide autoregulatory mechanism by means of which yeast aims at maintaining a preferential concentration in its mRNA levels. The resulting feedback system explains well the different time constants observable in the transient response, while being in agreement with all the known experimental dynamical features. For example, it suggests that a very rapid transient can be induced also by a slowly varying concentration of the gene products.}, doi = {10.1049/iet-syb.2009.0050}, url = {http://hdl.handle.net/1963/5106}, author = {F Eduati and B Di Camillo and G Toffolo and Claudio Altafini and Giovanna De Palo and Mattia Zampieri} }