Soni A S, Jenkins J W, Sundaram S S
CFD Research Corporation, Biomedical Technologies Division, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA.
IET Syst Biol. 2008 Mar;2(2):55-63. doi: 10.1049/iet-syb:20070025.
Network theory has established that highly connected nodes in regulatory networks (hubs) show a strong correlation with criticality in network function. Although topological analysis is fully capable of identifying network hubs, it does not provide an objective method for ranking the importance of a particular node by relating its contribution to the overall network response. Towards this end, the authors have developed an augmented Boolean pseudo-dynamics approach to a priori determine the critical network interactions in biological interaction networks. The approach utilises network topology and dynamic state information to determine the set of active pathways. The active pathways are used in conjunction with the key cellular properties of efficiency and robustness, to rank the network interactions based on their importance in the sustenance of network function. To demonstrate the utility of the approach, the authors consider the well characterised guard cell signalling network in plant cells. An integrated analysis of the network revealed the critical mechanisms resulting in stomata closure in the presence and absence of abscisic acid, in excellent agreement with published results.
网络理论已经证实，调节网络中的高度连接节点（枢纽）与网络功能的关键性密切相关。尽管拓扑分析完全能够识别网络枢纽，但它并没有提供一种客观的方法，通过将特定节点对整体网络响应的贡献关联起来，来对其重要性进行排名。为此，作者们开发了一种增强的布尔伪动力学方法，以便先验地确定生物相互作用网络中的关键网络相互作用。该方法利用网络拓扑和动态状态信息来确定活跃通路的集合。活跃通路与效率和稳健性等关键细胞特性相结合，根据它们在维持网络功能中的重要性对网络相互作用进行排名。为了证明该方法的实用性，作者们考虑了植物细胞中特征明确的保卫细胞信号网络。对该网络的综合分析揭示了在存在和不存在脱落酸的情况下导致气孔关闭的关键机制，这与已发表的结果高度一致。
