RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 An analytical approach to bistable biological circuit discrimination using real algebraic geometry JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 008581 DO 10.1101/008581 A1 Dan Siegal-Gaskins A1 Elisa Franco A1 Tiffany Zhou A1 Richard M. Murray YR 2015 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2015/05/30/008581.abstract AB Biomolecular circuits with two distinct and stable steady states have been identified as essential components in a wide range of biological networks, with a variety of mechanisms and topologies giving rise to their important bistable property. Understanding the differences between circuit implementations is an important question, particularly for the synthetic biologist faced with determining which bistable circuit design out of many is best for their specific application. In this work we explore the applicability of Sturm’s theorem—a tool from 19th-century real algebraic geometry—to comparing “functionally equivalent” bistable circuits without the need for numerical simulation. We first consider two genetic toggle variants and two different positive feedback circuits, and show how specific topological properties present in each type of circuit can serve to increase the size of the regions of parameter space in which they function as switches. We then demonstrate that a single competitive monomeric activator added to a purely-monomeric (and otherwise monostable) mutual repressor circuit is sufficient for bistability. Finally, we compare our approach with the Routh-Hurwitz method and derive consistent, yet more powerful, parametric conditions. The predictive power and ease of use of Sturm’s theorem demonstrated in this work suggests that algebraic geometric techniques may be underutilized in biomolecular circuit analysis.