Investigating Effects and Relative Power of Variables in the Epinephrine Signal Transduction Pathway

Abstract

The epinephrine signal transduction pathway is one of the most crucial signaling pathways in the human body. It controls the flight-or-fight response, which enables humans to handle dangerous and often life-threatening situations. This paper seeks to establish which of the pathway’s independent variables are the most powerful, and which are the best for increasing and decreasing specific dependent variables. The chosen computational approach was testing increases in each independent variable and observing the effects on dependent variables using a STELLA Architect model created by Mr. Jon Darkow. The analysis of each test’s graphical results led to conclusions regarding the relative power and effects of several variables in the pathway. I concluded that the most powerful independent variable was the Beta Blocker inhibitor, followed by the KT 5720 inhibitor. Increasing initial ATP amounts was the best solution to increasing cyclic AMP, PKA, and phosphorylase kinase, while increasing the inactive G protein was the preferred means to increase the active G protein and adenylyl cyclase. Finally, the best way to increase glucose and carbon dioxide was to increase initial glycogen amounts. The results of this paper can be applied in a medical context to assist patients with deficiencies or excessive amounts of specific variables involved in this pathway. Furthermore, the analysis and figures provide insight into the effects that increasing an independent variable has on the entire model; this insight renders useful when doctors are ensuring that an increase of one variable will not place another variable beyond its safe bodily limits.