SigFlux: A novel network feature to evaluate the importance of proteins in signal transduction networks

Background: Measuring each protein's importance in signaling networks helps to identify the crucial proteins in a cellular process, find the fragile portion of the biology system and further assist for disease therapy. However, there are relatively few methods to evaluate the importance of proteins in signaling networks. Results: We developed a novel network feature to evaluate the importance of proteins in signal transduction networks, that we call SigFlux, based on the concept of minimal path sets (MPSs). An MPS is a minimal set of nodes that can perform the signal propagation from ligands to target genes or feedback loops. We define SigFlux as the number of MPSs in which each protein is involved. We applied this network feature to the large signal transduction network in the hippocampal CA1 neuron of mice. Significant correlations were simultaneously observed between SigFlux and both the essentiality and evolutionary rate of genes. Compared with another commonly used network f...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2006
• Where: BMCBI
• Authors: Wei Liu, Dong Li, Jiyang Zhang, Yunping Zhu, Fuchu He
• Keywords: BMCBI 2006, Network Feature, Protein, Signal Transduction Networks