Multistationarity in Cyclic Sequestration-Transmutation Networks

Abstract

We consider a natural class of reaction networks which consist of reactions where either two species can inactivate each other (i.e., sequestration), or some species can be transformed into another (i.e., transmutation), in a way that gives rise to a feedback cycle. We completely characterize the capacity of multistationarity of these networks. This is especially interesting because such networks provide simple examples of "atoms of multistationarity", i.e., minimal networks that can give rise to multiple positive steady states.

Keywords: Atoms of multistationarity; General kinetics; Mass-action kinetics; Multistationarity; Reaction networks; Sequestration-transmutation networks; VEGFR dimerization.