Self-similarity of human protein interaction networks: a novel strategy of distinguishing proteins
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Date
2015
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Abstract
The successful determination of reliable protein interaction networks (PINs) in several species in the
post-genomic era has hitherto facilitated the quest to understanding systems and structural properties of
such networks. It is envisaged that a clearer understanding of their intrinsic topological properties would
elucidate evolutionary and biological topography of organisms. This, in turn, may inform the
understanding of diseases’ aetiology. By analysing sub-networks that are induced in various layers identified
by zones defined as distance from central proteins, we show that zones of human PINs display self-similarity
patterns. What is observed at a global level is repeated at lower levels of inducement. Furthermore, it is
observed that these levels of strength point to refinement and specialisations in these layers. This may point
to the fact that various levels of representations in the self-similarity phenomenon offer a way of measuring
and distinguishing the importance of proteins in the network. To consolidate our findings, we have also
considered a gene co-expression network and a class of gene regulatory networks in the same framework. In
all cases, the phenomenon is significantly evident. In particular, the truly unbiased regulatory networks
show finer level of articulation of self-similarity.
Description
Keywords
Protein interaction networks (PINs), Disease aetiology, Gene regulatory network, Post-genomic era
Citation
Fadhal, E., (2015). Self-similarity of human protein interaction networks: a novel strategy of distinguishing proteins. Scientific Reports, 5: 7628