← Back to Cellular Circuits
REDOX SIGNAL CONTROL · INTERACTIVE REVIEW

NRF2–KEAP1 as a redox signal-resolution circuit

Beyond the antioxidant switch

Core idea Signal duration matters Control logic Detect → adapt → resolve Article 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2026.03.005 ↗

Figures and interactive outputs are conceptual illustrations, not experimental measurements.

01 / SIGNAL DYNAMICS

Change the stress pattern

Adjust the inputs and compare a brief response with a response that persists.

Live simulation

How effectively feedback, turnover and recovery bring signaling back toward baseline.

Resolution-favored pattern
RELATIVE NRF2 OUTPUT TIME → 0 50 100
Stress input NRF2 output Higher-resolution reference
Peak response60%
Residual signal18%
Reset index72/100

A brief stress pulse with effective feedback permits output to return toward baseline.

02 / CIRCUIT ARCHITECTURE

Explore the redoxostat

Select a component to inspect its role in control and recovery.

Select a node
K
SENSOR MODULE

KEAP1 reads redox chemistry

Reactive cysteine residues respond to oxidative and electrophilic cues. Their modification can reduce KEAP1-mediated NRF2 ubiquitination and stabilize NRF2.

Control questionCan the sensor regain its regulatory state after the cue subsides?
03 / FAILURE MODES

Where can resolution fail?

Different defects can produce persistent output through different routes.

Failure map
K C N ↻ KEAP1CUL3NRF2RESET
SENSOR FAILURE

KEAP1 sensing does not return to baseline

Loss-of-function changes or persistent modification can weaken KEAP1-mediated NRF2 repression after the original stress signal subsides.

Expected patternNRF2 remains stabilized after withdrawal.
Discriminating testFollow KEAP1 state and NRF2 turnover after a reversible stress pulse.
04 / SWITCH VS CIRCUIT

Same peak, different history

Explore why peak activation alone can miss the cost of persistent signaling.

Model comparison
STRESS STARTSTRESS WITHDRAWN →
Switch model: the state is read mainly as inactive or activated. Duration and post-stress recovery receive less emphasis.
ON / OFF

Antioxidant switch

Prioritizes whether NRF2 is activated and how strongly targets are induced.

INPUT → OUTPUT → RESET

Signal-resolution circuit

Tracks input history, output duration, termination and recovery of responsiveness.

05 / EXPERIMENT DESIGN

Build a discriminating experiment

Choose a perturbation and the measurement that would best separate the models.

Study planner

Choose settings, then generate a matched experiment plan.

EXPERIMENT PREDICTION

Stress pulse followed by withdrawal

Stimulus→Measurement→Decision

Apply the selected perturbation and sample before, during and after it. Generate a prediction to compare model-specific outcomes.

ANTIOXIDANT SWITCH

Prioritizes pathway activation and target induction during stress.

SIGNAL-RESOLUTION CIRCUIT

Predicts that decay and recovery may distinguish conditions with similar peak output.

Primary readoutDecay kinetics and time to baseline
Essential controlVehicle control and verified stressor washout.
InterpretationCompare post-withdrawal behavior, not only the peak.
06 / BIOLOGICAL CONTEXT

Why duration changes the outcome

Select a context to see how persistent NRF2 signaling may be interpreted.

Context matters
✳

Transient activation can be protective

A time-limited NRF2 response can induce antioxidant and detoxification programs. Efficient termination helps return the system toward a responsive baseline.

InterpretationAssess both protection during stress and recovery after withdrawal.
THE CENTRAL DISTINCTION

Activation is an event. Resolution is a system property.

The redoxostat framework shifts attention from peak NRF2 activity alone to the full trajectory: sensing, response, termination and renewed competence.

Read the published review ↗