Attractor-Transition Control of Complex Biological Networks: A Constant Control Approach

This article presents attractor-transition control of complex biological networks represented by Boolean networks (BNs) wherein the BN is steered from a prescribed initial attractor toward a desired one. The proposed approach leverages the similarity between attractors and Boolean algebraic properties embedded in the underlying state transition equations. To enhance the clarity of expression regarding stabilization toward the desired attractor, a simple coordinate transformation is performed on the considered BN. Based on the characteristics of transformed state equations, self-stabilizing state variables requiring no control efforts are derived in the first. Next, by applying the feedback vertex set (FVS) control scheme, control inputs stabilizing the remaining state variables are determined. The proposed control scheme exhibits versatility by accommodating both fixed-point and cyclic attractors. We validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy through extensive numerical experiments conducted on random BNs as well as complex biological systems. In adherence to the reproducible research initiative, detailed results of numerical experiments and all the implementation codes are provided on the authors’ website: https://github.com/choonlog/AttractorTransition.