Reduced modeling of signal transduction - a modular approach

Background: Combinatorial complexity is a challenging problem in detailed and mechanistic mathematical modeling of signal transduction. This subject has been discussed intensively and a lot of progress has been made within the last few years. A software tool (BioNetGen) was developed which allows an automatic rule-based set-up of mechanistic model equations. In many cases these models can be reduced by an exact domain-oriented lumping technique. However, the resulting models can still consist of a very large number of differential equations. Results: We introduce a new reduction technique, which allows building modularized and highly reduced models. Compared to existing approaches further reduction of signal transduction networks is possible. The method also provides a new modularization criterion, which allows to dissect the model into smaller modules that are called layers and can be modeled independently. Hallmarks of the approach are conservation relations within each layer and co...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2007
• Where: BMCBI
• Authors: Markus Koschorreck, Holger Conzelmann, Sybille Ebert, Michael Ederer, Ernst Dieter Gilles
• Keywords: BMCBI 2007, Model Equations, Signal Transduction, Signal Transduction Networks