Application of Logic Synthesis Toward the Inference and Control of Gene Regulatory Networks

Application of Logic Synthesis Toward the Inference and Control of Gene Regulatory Networks
Author: Pey Chang K Lin
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2013
Genre:
ISBN:

In the quest to understand cell behavior and cure genetic diseases such as cancer, the fundamental approach being taken is undergoing a gradual change. It is becoming more acceptable to view these diseases as an engineering problem, and systems engineering approaches are being deployed to tackle genetic diseases. In this light, we believe that logic synthesis techniques can play a very important role. Several techniques from the field of logic synthesis can be adapted to assist in the arguably huge effort of modeling cell behavior, inferring biological networks, and controlling genetic diseases. Genes interact with other genes in a Gene Regulatory Network (GRN) and can be modeled as a Boolean Network (BN) or equivalently as a Finite State Machine (FSM). As the expression of genes determine cell behavior, important problems include (i) inferring the GRN from observed gene expression data from biological measurements, and (ii) using the inferred GRN to explain how genetic diseases occur and determine the "best" therapy towards treatment of disease. We report results on the application of logic synthesis techniques that we have developed to address both these problems. In the first technique, we present Boolean Satisfiability (SAT) based approaches to infer the predictor (logical support) of each gene that regulates melanoma, using gene expression data from patients who are suffering from the disease. From the output of such a tool, biologists can construct targeted experiments to understand the logic functions that regulate a particular target gene. Our second technique builds upon the first, in which we use a logic synthesis technique; implemented using SAT, to determine gene regulating functions for predictors and gene expression data. This technique determines a BN (or family of BNs) to describe the GRN and is validated on a synthetic network and the p53 network. The first two techniques assume binary valued gene expression data. In the third technique, we utilize continuous (analog) expression data, and present an algorithm to infer and rank predictors using modified Zhegalkin polynomials. We demonstrate our method to rank predictors for genes in the mutated mammalian and melanoma networks. The final technique assumes that the GRN is known, and uses weighted partial Max-SAT (WPMS) towards cancer therapy. In this technique, the GRN is assumed to be known. Cancer is modeled using a stuck-at fault model, and ATPG techniques are used to characterize genes leading to cancer and select drugs to treat cancer. To steer the GRN state towards a desirable healthy state, the optimal selection of drugs is formulated using WPMS. Our techniques can be used to find a set of drugs with the least side-effects, and is demonstrated in the context of growth factor pathways for colon cancer. The electronic version of this dissertation is accessible from http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/151088

Logic Synthesis for Genetic Diseases

Logic Synthesis for Genetic Diseases
Author: Pey-Chang Kent Lin
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 112
Release: 2013-10-31
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 146149429X

This book brings to bear a body of logic synthesis techniques, in order to contribute to the analysis and control of Boolean Networks (BN) for modeling genetic diseases such as cancer. The authors provide several VLSI logic techniques to model the genetic disease behavior as a BN, with powerful implicit enumeration techniques. Coverage also includes techniques from VLSI testing to control a faulty BN, transforming its behavior to a healthy BN, potentially aiding in efforts to find the best candidates for treatment of genetic diseases.

Towards Causality in Gene Regulatory Network Inference

Towards Causality in Gene Regulatory Network Inference
Author: Alexander Po-Yen Wu
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023
Genre:
ISBN:

Understanding the coordination of biomolecules that underlies gene regulation is key to gaining mechanistic insights into cellular functions, phenotypes, and diseases. Advances in single-cell technologies promise to unveil mechanisms of gene regulation at unprecedented resolution by enabling measurements of genomic and/or epigenetic features for individual cells. However, unlocking insights from single-cell data requires algorithmic innovations. This thesis introduces a series of methods for uncovering gene regulatory relationships underlying cellular identity and function from single-cell data. Firstly, we present a framework for enhancing the detection of statistical associations in small sample size settings for gene regulatory network inference. We then describe the use of single-cell genetic perturbation screens for determining the causal roles of critical regulatory complexes, focusing specifically on its applications for revealing mechanistic insights about the mammalian SWI/SNF family of chromatin remodeling complexes. To bridge the gap between methods that identify statistical associations from observational data and those that infer causal relationships using interventions, we also introduce a new category of techniques that extends the econometric concept of Granger causality to complex graph-based dynamical systems, such as those found in single-cell trajectories. In particular, we describe a graph neural network-based generalization of Granger causality for single-cell multimodal data that enables the detection of noncoding genomic loci implicated in the regulation of specific genes. We then demonstrate how we use this approach to link genetic variants to gene dysregulation in disease, focusing on its applications to schizophrenia etiology. Lastly, we present an extension of this graph-based Granger causal framework that leverages RNA velocity dynamics for causal gene regulatory network inference and enables inquiries into the role of temporal control in gene regulatory function and disease.

Computational Modeling Of Gene Regulatory Networks - A Primer

Computational Modeling Of Gene Regulatory Networks - A Primer
Author: Hamid Bolouri
Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company
Total Pages: 341
Release: 2008-08-13
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1848168187

This book serves as an introduction to the myriad computational approaches to gene regulatory modeling and analysis, and is written specifically with experimental biologists in mind. Mathematical jargon is avoided and explanations are given in intuitive terms. In cases where equations are unavoidable, they are derived from first principles or, at the very least, an intuitive description is provided. Extensive examples and a large number of model descriptions are provided for use in both classroom exercises as well as self-guided exploration and learning. As such, the book is ideal for self-learning and also as the basis of a semester-long course for undergraduate and graduate students in molecular biology, bioengineering, genome sciences, or systems biology./a

Fuzzy Systems in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Fuzzy Systems in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Author: Yaochu Jin
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 336
Release: 2008-12-28
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 3540899685

Biological systems are inherently stochastic and uncertain. Thus, research in bioinformatics, biomedical engineering and computational biology has to deal with a large amount of uncertainties. Fuzzy logic has shown to be a powerful tool in capturing different uncertainties in engineering systems. In recent years, fuzzy logic based modeling and analysis approaches are also becoming popular in analyzing biological data and modeling biological systems. Numerous research and application results have been reported that demonstrated the effectiveness of fuzzy logic in solving a wide range of biological problems found in bioinformatics, biomedical engineering, and computational biology. Contributed by leading experts world-wide, this edited book contains 16 chapters presenting representative research results on the application of fuzzy systems to genome sequence assembly, gene expression analysis, promoter analysis, cis-regulation logic analysis and synthesis, reconstruction of genetic and cellular networks, as well as biomedical problems, such as medical image processing, electrocardiogram data classification and anesthesia monitoring and control. This volume is a valuable reference for researchers, practitioners, as well as graduate students working in the field of bioinformatics, biomedical engineering and computational biology.

Evolutionary Computation in Gene Regulatory Network Research

Evolutionary Computation in Gene Regulatory Network Research
Author: Hitoshi Iba
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 464
Release: 2016-01-20
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1119079772

Introducing a handbook for gene regulatory network research using evolutionary computation, with applications for computer scientists, computational and system biologists This book is a step-by-step guideline for research in gene regulatory networks (GRN) using evolutionary computation (EC). The book is organized into four parts that deliver materials in a way equally attractive for a reader with training in computation or biology. Each of these sections, authored by well-known researchers and experienced practitioners, provides the relevant materials for the interested readers. The first part of this book contains an introductory background to the field. The second part presents the EC approaches for analysis and reconstruction of GRN from gene expression data. The third part of this book covers the contemporary advancements in the automatic construction of gene regulatory and reaction networks and gives direction and guidelines for future research. Finally, the last part of this book focuses on applications of GRNs with EC in other fields, such as design, engineering and robotics. • Provides a reference for current and future research in gene regulatory networks (GRN) using evolutionary computation (EC) • Covers sub-domains of GRN research using EC, such as expression profile analysis, reverse engineering, GRN evolution, applications • Contains useful contents for courses in gene regulatory networks, systems biology, computational biology, and synthetic biology • Delivers state-of-the-art research in genetic algorithms, genetic programming, and swarm intelligence Evolutionary Computation in Gene Regulatory Network Research is a reference for researchers and professionals in computer science, systems biology, and bioinformatics, as well as upper undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students. Hitoshi Iba is a Professor in the Department of Information and Communication Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, at the University of Tokyo, Toyko, Japan. He is an Associate Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation and the journal of Genetic Programming and Evolvable Machines. Nasimul Noman is a lecturer in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. From 2002 to 2012 he was a faculty member at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Noman is an Editor of the BioMed Research International journal. His research interests include computational biology, synthetic biology, and bioinformatics.

The Regulatory Genome

The Regulatory Genome
Author: Eric H. Davidson
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 303
Release: 2010-07-19
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0080455573

Gene regulatory networks are the most complex, extensive control systems found in nature. The interaction between biology and evolution has been the subject of great interest in recent years. The author, Eric Davidson, has been instrumental in elucidating this relationship. He is a world renowned scientist and a major contributor to the field of developmental biology. The Regulatory Genome beautifully explains the control of animal development in terms of structure/function relations of inherited regulatory DNA sequence, and the emergent properties of the gene regulatory networks composed of these sequences. New insights into the mechanisms of body plan evolution are derived from considerations of the consequences of change in developmental gene regulatory networks. Examples of crucial evidence underscore each major concept. The clear writing style explains regulatory causality without requiring a sophisticated background in descriptive developmental biology. This unique text supersedes anything currently available in the market. The only book in the market that is solely devoted to the genomic regulatory code for animal development Written at a conceptual level, including many novel synthetic concepts that ultimately simplify understanding Presents a comprehensive treatment of molecular control elements that determine the function of genes Provides a comparative treatment of development, based on principles rather than description of developmental processes Considers the evolutionary processes in terms of the structural properties of gene regulatory networks Includes 42 full-color descriptive figures and diagrams

An Integrated Experimental/computational Approach to Infer Gene Regulatory Networks

An Integrated Experimental/computational Approach to Infer Gene Regulatory Networks
Author: David Ronald Lorenz
Publisher:
Total Pages: 408
Release: 2009
Genre:
ISBN:

Abstract: Elucidating the structure and function of biological interaction networks is a major challenge of the post-genomic era; the development of methods to infer these networks has thus been an active area of research. In this work, I describe an integrated experimental/computational strategy for reverse-engineering gene regulatory networks called NIR (Network Inference by multiple Regression), derived from a branch of engineering known as system identification. This method uses mRNA expression changes in response to network gene perturbations to formulate a first-order model of functional interactions between genes in the chosen network, providing a quantitative, directed and unsupervised description of transcriptional regulatory interactions. This approach was first applied to nine genes from the SOS pathway in the model prokaryote Escherichia coli, where it correctly identified RecA and LexA as key transcriptional regulators responding to DNA damage. Further, the quantitative network model was used to distinguish the transcriptional targets of pharmacological compounds, an important consideration in drug development and discovery. In the model eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae, I applied the NIR method to ten genes from the glucose-responsive Snf 1 pathway. The network model inferred from this analysis correctly identified the major transcriptional regulators, and revealed a greater degree of complexity for this pathway than previously known. The majority of putative novel interactions were subsequently verified using gene deletions and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments. This new, validated network architecture was then used to identify and experimentally confirm combinatorial transcriptional regulation of yeast aging, a mechanism not likely to be identified in the absence of knowledge of the network structure. Overall, these results demonstrate the utility of our inference approach to characterize smaller gene regulatory networks at a higher level of detail, and to successfully use the network model to gain new insights into complex biological processes.

Computational Methods for Integrative Inference of Genome-scale Gene Regulatory Networks

Computational Methods for Integrative Inference of Genome-scale Gene Regulatory Networks
Author: Alireza Fotuhi Siahpirani
Publisher:
Total Pages: 156
Release: 2019
Genre:
ISBN:

Inference of transcriptional regulatory networks is an important filed of research in systems biology, and many computational methods have been developed to infer regulatory networks from different types of genomic data. One of the most popular classes of computational network inference methods is expression based network inference. Given the mRNA levels of genes, these methods reconstruct a network between regulatory genes (called transcription factors) and potential target genes that best explains the input data. However, it has been shown that the networks that are inferred only using expression, have low agreement with experimentally validated physical regulatory interactions. In recent years, many methods have been developed to improve the accuracy of these computational methods by incorporating additional data types. In this dissertation, we describe our contributions towards advancing the state of the art in this field. Our first contribution, is developing a prior-based network inference method, MERLIN-P. MERLIN-P uses both expression of genes, and prior knowledge of interactions between regulatory genes and their potential targets, and infers a network that is supported by both expression and prior knowledge. Using a logistic function, MERLIN-P could incorporate and combine multiple sources of prior knowledge. The inferred networks in yeast, outperform state of the art expression based network inference methods, and perform better or at a par with prior based state of the art method. Our second contribution, is developing a method to estimate transcription factor activity from a noisy prior network, NCA+LASSO. Network Component Analysis (NCA), is a computational method that given expression of target genes and a (potentially incomplete and noisy) network structure that describes the connection of regulatory genes to these target genes, estimates unobserved activity of the regulators (transcription factor activities, TFA). It has been shown that using TFA can improve the quality of inferred networks. However, our prior knowledge in new contexts could be incomplete and noisy, and we do not know to what extent presence of noise in input network affects the quality of estimated TFA. We first show how presence of noise in the input prior network can decrease the quality of estimated TFA, and then show that by adding a regularization term, we can improve the quality of the estimated TFA. We show that using estimated TFA instead of just expression of TFs in network inference, improves the agreement of inferred networks to experimentally validated physical interactions, for all state of the art methods, including MERLIN-P. Our final contribution, is developing a multi-task inference method, Dynamic Regulatory Module Network (DRMN), that simultaneously infers regulatory networks for related cell lines, while taking into account the expected similarity of the cell lines. Many biological contexts are hierarchically related, and leveraging the similarity of these contexts could help us infer more accurate regulatory programs in each context. However, the small number of measurements in each context makes the inference of regulatory networks challenging. By inferring regulatory programs at module level (groups of co-expressed genes), DRMN is able to handle the small number of measurements, while the use of multi-task learning allows for incorporation of hierarchical relationship of contexts. DRMN first infers modules of co-expressed genes in each cell line, then infers a regulatory network for each module, and iteratively updates the inferred modules to reflect both co-expression and co-regulation, and updates the inferred networks to reflect the updated modules. We assess the accuracy of the inferred networks by predicting the expression on hold out genes, and show that the resulting modules and networks, provide insight into the process of differentiation between these related cell lines. For all the developed methods, we validate our results by comparing to known experimentally validated networks, and show that our results provide useful insight into the biological processes under consideration. Specifically, in chapter 2, we evaluated our inferred networks based on both network structure and predictive power, identified TFs that all tested methods fail to recover their target sets, and explored potential reasons that can explain this failure. Additionally, we used our method to infer stress specific networks, and evaluated predictions using stress specific knock-down experiments. In chapter 3, we evaluated our inferred networks based on both network structure and predictive power, and furthermore used our inferred networks to identify potential regulators that could be important for pluripotency state in mESC. We tested the effect of these regulators using shRNA experiments, and experimentally validated some of their predicted targets. Finally, in chapter 4, we evaluated our inferred models based on their predictive power and ability to predict gene expression in hold out data.