Fig. 7

Dependence of stochastic transition paths on the repressor unbinding rate parameter f _r in the MISA network (parameter values listed in Additional file 1: Table S1). a Table of all possible transition paths starting from the Hi/Lo (blue) and ending in the Lo/Hi (red) macrostate (color coding is same as Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5). Relative probabilities of traversing a given path are shown, along with the stationary probabilities of the system to be found in a given macrostate. b-d Dominant transition paths superimposed on the 3D quasipotential surfaces for fr = {5E − 4, 1E − 3, 5E − 3}, demonstrating how dominant paths can traverse high-potential areas of the landscape. For example, when f _r  = 1E − 3, (panel c), successful transitions most likely go through the Hi/Hi state (3.2% populated at steady state), though this requires a large barrier crossing. Pathway percentages are superimposed on the landscapes