IBC University Stuttgart

Cellular Networks

"Man did not weave the web. He's merely a strand in it". – Chief Seattle (1854)

Cell systems can be described as networks. A major cellular network is that made up by the working horses of the cell, the proteins. The protein networks existing in living cells show enormous complexity. They can be divided into two subtypes: physical interaction networks and genetic interaction networks.

Physical interaction networks give information about protein-protein complexes existing in the cell but also about more or less transient contacts taking place between individual proteins. Thus, physical linkage can hint on a cooperative function in the same molecular multi-subunit machine or of a common function brought up by a direct interplay of the connected proteins.

Genetic interaction networks - on the other hand - provide immediate information on functional relationships between the genetically connected proteins.

Because of the enormous complexity network analysis is a big challenge.