title: Depicting combinatorial complexity with the molecular interaction map notation.
abstract: To help us understand how bioregulatory networks operate, we need a standard notation for diagrams analogous to electronic circuit diagrams. Such diagrams must surmount the difficulties posed by complex patterns of protein modifications and multiprotein complexes. To meet that challenge, we have designed the molecular interaction map (MIM) notation (http://discover.nci.nih.gov/mim/). Here we show the advantages of the MIM notation for three important types of diagrams: (1) explicit diagrams that define specific pathway models for computer simulation; (2) heuristic maps that organize the available information about molecular interactions and encompass the possible processes or pathways; and (3) diagrams of combinatorially complex models. We focus on signaling from the epidermal growth factor receptor family (EGFR, ErbB), a network that reflects the major challenges of representing in a compact manner the combinatorial complexity of multimolecular complexes. By comparing MIMs with other diagrams of this network that have recently been published, we show the utility of the MIM notation. These comparisons may help cell and systems biologists adopt a graphical language that is unambiguous and generally understood.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA. kohnk@dc37a.nci.nih.gov
authors.forename: Kurt W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: Mirit I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Aladjem
authors.forename: Sohyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pommier
mesh_terms: D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003626:Data Display; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry; D018739:Oncogene Proteins v-erbB / Q000737:chemistry; D011485:Protein Binding; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012984:Software; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D018739:Oncogene Proteins v-erbB; D066246:ErbB Receptors