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Modeling Signaling Networks with Different Formalisms: A Preview

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In Silico Systems Biology

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1021))

Abstract

In the last 30 years, many of the mechanisms behind signal transduction, the process by which the cell takes extracellular signals as an input and converts them to a specific cellular phenotype, have been experimentally determined. With these discoveries, however, has come the realization that the architecture of signal transduction, the signaling network, is incredibly complex. Although the main pathways between receptor and output are well-known, there is a complex net of regulatory features that include crosstalk between different pathways, spatial and temporal effects, and positive and negative feedbacks. Hence, modeling approaches have been used to try and unravel some of these complexities.

We use the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade to illustrate chemical kinetic and logic approaches to modeling signaling networks. By using a common well-known model, we illustrate here the assumptions and level of detail behind each modeling approach, which serves as an introduction to the more detailed discussions of each in the accompanying chapters in this book.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. EMBL Outstation–European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge, UK

    Aidan MacNamara & Julio Saez-Rodriguez

  2. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (CSIC), Vigo, Spain

    David Henriques

Authors
  1. Aidan MacNamara
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  2. David Henriques
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  3. Julio Saez-Rodriguez
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Genome Analysis Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, United Kingdom

    Maria Victoria Schneider

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MacNamara, A., Henriques, D., Saez-Rodriguez, J. (2013). Modeling Signaling Networks with Different Formalisms: A Preview. In: Schneider, M. (eds) In Silico Systems Biology. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1021. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-450-0_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-450-0_5

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-449-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-450-0

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