Symbolic approach to verification and control of deterministic/probabilistic Boolean networks.

A Boolean network (BN) is well known as one of the models of biological networks such as gene regulatory networks, and has been extensively studied. In this study, for a BN, the verification/control problems are discussed. First, a probabilistic model including both synchronous and asynchronous Boolean dynamics is derived. This model can be generalised as a probabilistic BN. Next, a solution method of the verification/control problems is proposed, based on a probabilistic model checker PRISM. Finally, the PRISM-based method is applied to an apoptosis network and a WNT5A network. The proposed approach provides us an easy and convenient tool for analysis and control of biological networks.