On network entropy and bio-interactome applications
Networks represent a main methodological instrument in systems biology applications. In particular, modularity is widely investigated in the attempt to elucidate the regulative and correlative nature of gene and protein associations, respectively. However, modular maps are only approximate representations due to two main factors. First, the resolution spectrum that has to be covered is wide and method-dependent. Second, the randomness underlying network dynamics and influencing them through fluctuations and system perturbations, is difficult to measure. We investigate both aspects by an application to the yeast protein interactome network, and suggest that a non-extensive characterization of entropy may play a role for elucidating both random and biological variation.
protein interactome networks non-extensive entropy multiresolution analysis