Modeling A Multi-Compartments Biological System with Membrane Computing

Problem statement: Most of the biological systems have been hierarchical in structure with processes interacting between different compartments. Membrane computing formalism has provided modeling capabilities in representing the structure of biological systems. Approach: This study was carried to investigate the modeling of a multi-compartment biological system by using membrane computing formalism. The hormone-induced calcium oscillations in liver cells which was modeled with ordinary differential equation was used as a case study. The membrane computing model of this case study was verified and validated by using simulation strategy of Gillespie algorithm and the method of model checking using probabilistic symbolic model checker. The results of membrane computing model were compared to the ordinary differential equation model. Results: The simulation and model checking of membrane computing model of the biological case study showed that the properties of the multi-compartments biological system could be preserved with the membrane computing model. Membrane computing model could also accommodate the structure and processes of the multi-compartments biological system which were absent in the ordinary differential equation model. Conclusion: Membrane computing model provides a better approach in representing a multi-compartment system and able to sustain the basic properties of the system. However appropriate value of parameters to represent the rules of the processes of the membrane computing model to manage the stochastic behavior should be formulated to meet the performance of the biological system.