Application of Petri net based analysis techniques to signal transduction pathways

Background: Signal transduction pathways are usually modelled using classical quantitative methods, which are based on ordinary differential equations (ODEs). However, some difficulties are inherent in this approach. On the one hand, the kinetic parameters involved are often unknown and have to be estimated. With increasing size and complexity of signal transduction pathways, the estimation of missing kinetic data is not possible. On the other hand, ODEs based models do not support any explicit insights into possible (signal-) flows within the network. Moreover, a huge amount of qualitative data is available due to high-throughput techniques. In order to get information on the systems behaviour, qualitative analysis techniques have been developed. Applications of the known qualitative analysis methods concern mainly metabolic networks. Petri net theory provides a variety of established analysis techniques, which are also applicable to signal transduction models. In this context specia...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2006
• Where: BMCBI
• Authors: Andrea Sackmann, Monika Heiner, Ina Koch
• Keywords: BMCBI 2006, Petri Net Theory, Signal Transduction, Transduction Pathways