The Togashi Kaneko model (TK model) is a simple stochastic reaction network that displays discreteness-induced transitions between meta-stable patterns. Here we study a constrained Langevin approximation (CLA) of this model. This CLA, derived under the classical scaling, is an obliquely reflected diffusion process on the positive orthant and hence respects the constraint that chemical concentrations are never negative. We show that the CLA is a Feller process, is positive Harris recurrent and converges exponentially fast to the unique stationary distribution. We also characterize the stationary distribution and show that it has finite moments. In addition, we simulate both the TK model and its CLA in various dimensions. For example, we describe how the TK model switches between meta-stable patterns in dimension six. Our simulations suggest that, when the volume of the vessel in which all of the reactions that take place is large, the CLA is a good approximation of the TK model in terms of both the stationary distribution and the transition times between patterns.
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Error bounds for one-dimensional constrained Langevin approximations for nearly density-dependent Markov chains
Abstract Continuous-time Markov chains are frequently used to model the stochastic dynamics of (bio)chemical reaction networks. However, except in very special cases, they cannot be analyzed exactly. Additionally, simulation can be computationally intensive. An approach to address these challenges is to consider a more tractable diffusion approximation. Leite and Williams (Ann. Appl. Prob.29, 2019) proposed a reflected diffusion as an approximation for (bio)chemical reaction networks, which they called the constrained Langevin approximation (CLA) as it extends the usual Langevin approximation beyond the first time some chemical species becomes zero in number. Further explanation and examples of the CLA can be found in Anderson et al.( SIAM Multiscale Modeling Simul.17, 2019). In this paper, we extend the approximation of Leite and Williams to (nearly) density-dependent Markov chains, as a first step to obtaining error estimates for the CLA when the diffusion state space is one-dimensional, and we provide a bound for the error in a strong approximation. We discuss some applications for chemical reaction networks and epidemic models, and illustrate these with examples. Our method of proof is designed to generalize to higher dimensions, provided there is a Lipschitz Skorokhod map defining the reflected diffusion process. The existence of such a Lipschitz map is an open problem in dimensions more than one.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2153866
- PAR ID:
- 10587737
- Publisher / Repository:
- Cambridge University Press
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Advances in Applied Probability
- Volume:
- 56
- Issue:
- 3
- ISSN:
- 0001-8678
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 825 to 867
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- Density-dependent Markov chains diffusion approximation constrained Langevin approximation error bound linear noise approximation chemical reaction networks stochastic differential equation with oblique reflection systems biology
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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