Property information
p regulates q iff p is causally upstream of q, the execution of p is not constant and varies according to specific conditions, and p influences the rate or magnitude of execution of q due to an effect either on some enabler of q or some enabler of a part of q.
process(P1) regulates process(P2) iff: P1 results in the initiation or termination of P2 OR affects the frequency of its initiation or termination OR affects the magnitude or rate of output of P2.
x regulates y if and only if the x is the realization of a function to exert an effect on the frequency, rate or extent of y
Regulation precludes parthood; the regulatory process may not be within the regulated process.
We use 'regulates' here to specifically imply control. However, many colloquial usages of the term correctly correspond to the weaker relation of 'causally upstream of or within' (aka influences). Consider relabeling to make things more explicit
Chris Mungall
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7476-6306
Tanya Berardini
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6601-2165
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3837-8864
David Hill