Title
Susceptibility of the human pathways graphs to fragmentation by small sets of microRNAs.
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short sequences that negatively regulate gene expression. The current understanding of miRNA and their corresponding mRNA targets is primarily based on prediction programs. This study addresses the potential of a coordinated action of miRNAs to manipulate the human pathways. Specifically, we investigate the effectiveness of disrupting the topology of human pathway graphs through a regulation by miRNAs.From a set of miRNA candidates that is associated with a pathway, an exhaustive search for all possible doubles and triplets (coined miR-Duo, miR-Trios) is performed. The impact of each miR-combination on the connectivity of the pathway graph was quantified. About 170 human pathways were tested, and the miR-Duos and miR-Trios were scored for their ability to disrupt these pathway graphs. We show that 75% of all pathways are effectively disconnected by a small number of pathway-specific miR-Trios. Only 15% of the human pathways are resistant to fragmentation by miR-Duos or miR-Trios. Significantly, the combination of the most effective miR-Trios is unique. Thus, a specific regulation of a pathway within the cell is guaranteed. The impact of the selected miR-Duo/Trios on various diseases is discussed.The methodology presented shows that the synthesis of the topology of a network with a detailed understanding of the miRNAs' regulation is useful in exposing critical nodes of the network. We propose the miR-Trio approach as a basis for rationally designed perturbation experiments.michall@cc.huji.ac.ilSupplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Year
DOI
Venue
2012
10.1093/bioinformatics/bts077
Bioinformatics
Keywords
Field
DocType
human pathway graph,pathway graph,detailed understanding,human pathways graph,human pathway,pathway-specific mir-trios,small set,mirna candidate,current understanding,selected mir-duo,specific regulation,effective mir-trios
Graph,Brute-force search,Biology,microRNA,Gene expression,Fragmentation (computing),Bioinformatics
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
28
7
1367-4811
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
1
0.35
11
Authors
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Guy Naamati1171.78
Yitzhak Friedman2111.23
Ohad Balaga310.35
Michal Linial41502149.92