Information theory and signal transduction systems: From molecular information processing to network inference

•Information theory forms the mathematical framework to analyse signal transduction.•It allows us to quantify signal transduction efficiency.•We can also use it to infer the structure of signalling and regulatory networks. Sensing and responding to the environment are two essential functions that al...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Seminars in cell & developmental biology 2014-11, Vol.35, p.98-108
Main Authors: Mc Mahon, Siobhan S., Sim, Aaron, Filippi, Sarah, Johnson, Robert, Liepe, Juliane, Smith, Dominic, Stumpf, Michael P.H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Animals
Computer Simulation
Experimental design
Gene Regulatory Networks
Humans
Information Theory
Models, Biological
Mutual information
Network inference
Noise
Signal processing
Signal Transduction
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Summary:•Information theory forms the mathematical framework to analyse signal transduction.•It allows us to quantify signal transduction efficiency.•We can also use it to infer the structure of signalling and regulatory networks. Sensing and responding to the environment are two essential functions that all biological organisms need to master for survival and successful reproduction. Developmental processes are marshalled by a diverse set of signalling and control systems, ranging from systems with simple chemical inputs and outputs to complex molecular and cellular networks with non-linear dynamics. Information theory provides a powerful and convenient framework in which such systems can be studied; but it also provides the means to reconstruct the structure and dynamics of molecular interaction networks underlying physiological and developmental processes. Here we supply a brief description of its basic concepts and introduce some useful tools for systems and developmental biologists. Along with a brief but thorough theoretical primer, we demonstrate the wide applicability and biological application-specific nuances by way of different illustrative vignettes. In particular, we focus on the characterisation of biological information processing efficiency, examining cell-fate decision making processes, gene regulatory network reconstruction, and efficient signal transduction experimental design.
ISSN:1084-9521
1096-3634
DOI:10.1016/j.semcdb.2014.06.011