Biological pathway kinetic rate constants are scale-invariant.
BACKGROUND
Scale-free networks have had a profound impact in Biology. Network theory is now used routinely to visualize, navigate through, and help understand gene networks, protein-protein interactions, regulatory networks and metabolic pathways. Here we analyse the numerical rather than topological properties of biological networks and focus on the study of kinetic rate constants within pathways.


RESULTS
We have analysed all current entries in the BioModels database and show that the kinetic rate parameters follow Benford's; law closely. The cumulative histogram plot reveals an underlying power-law. This implies that these data are scale-invariant, thus placing biological network topology and their chemistry on an equivalent 'scale-free' power-law foundation.
Grandison
Scott
S
Department of Computational & Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, NR4 7UH Norwich, UK.
Morris
Richard J
RJ
D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008954:Models, Biological; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D020543:Proteome / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D020543:Proteome