Relationship Between Network Topology and Dynamics: Concepts from Genome-Wide Regulation of Cell States
Abstract
Despite accumulating data about the topology ("wiring diagram") of genome-wide gene regulatory networks little is known about the system behavior of such complex networks which produce the genome-wide molecular profiles that now can be measured with new genomic technologies. Using gene expression profiling to monitor multiple trajectories in genome-wise expression state space it was shown experimentally for the first time that a cell fate, in this case, neutrophil differentiation in a human cell line, represents a high-dimensional attractor state in gene expression state space - as predicted by theory. The use gene expression profiling for measuring trajectories necessitated the development of a computer program, GEDI to handle the new data structure. GEDI proved to be a powerful and versatile tool which allows intuitive and efficient inspection and analysis of large stacks of molecular profile data. Together with the insight in the constrained collective behavior of genes to attractors, this novel bioinformatics research tool will pave the way to applying molecular profiling methods for the high-throughput analysis of tissue response to unknown noxious agents. This in turn can be of great utility in the toxicological evaluation of new chemical and bioactive entities, incltding those relevant in chemical and biological warfare.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA436212
Entities
People
- Sui Huang