Multiscale modelling of coupled Ca 2+ channels using coloured stochastic Petri nets

Abstract

Stochastic modelling of coupled Ca2+ channels is a challenge, especially when the coupling of the channels, as determined by their spatial arrangement relative to each other, has to be considered at multiple spatial scales. In this study, the authors address this problem using coloured stochastic Petri nets (SPNc) as high-level description to generate continuous-time Markov chains. The authors develop several models with increasing complexity. They first apply SPNc to model single clusters of coupled Ca2+ channels arranged in a regular or irregular lattice, where they describe how to represent the geometrical arrangement of Ca2+ channels relative to each other using colours. They then apply this modelling idea to construct more complex models by modelling spatially arranged clusters of channels. The authors' models can be easily reproduced and adapted to different scenarios.