The stochastic evolution of a protocell: the Gillespie algorithm in a dynamically varying volume

Comput Math Methods Med. 2012:2012:423627. doi: 10.1155/2012/423627. Epub 2012 Mar 7.

Abstract

We propose an improvement of the Gillespie algorithm allowing us to study the time evolution of an ensemble of chemical reactions occurring in a varying volume, whose growth is directly related to the amount of some specific molecules, belonging to the reactions set. This allows us to study the stochastic evolution of a protocell, whose volume increases because of the production of container molecules. Several protocell models are considered and compared with the deterministic models.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Artificial Cells*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Models, Biological*
  • Models, Statistical*