title: MAGIA²: from miRNA and genes expression data integrative analysis to microRNA-transcription factor mixed regulatory circuits (2012 update).
abstract: MAGIA(2) (http://gencomp.bio.unipd.it/magia2) is an update, extension and evolution of the MAGIA web tool. It is dedicated to the integrated analysis of in silico target prediction, microRNA (miRNA) and gene expression data for the reconstruction of post-transcriptional regulatory networks. miRNAs are fundamental post-transcriptional regulators of several key biological and pathological processes. As miRNAs act prevalently through target degradation, their expression profiles are expected to be inversely correlated to those of the target genes. Low specificity of target prediction algorithms makes integration approaches an interesting solution for target prediction refinement. MAGIA(2) performs this integrative approach supporting different association measures, multiple organisms and almost all target predictions algorithms. Nevertheless, miRNAs activity should be viewed as part of a more complex scenario where regulatory elements and their interactors generate a highly connected network and where gene expression profiles are the result of different levels of regulation. The updated MAGIA(2) tries to dissect this complexity by reconstructing mixed regulatory circuits involving either miRNA or transcription factor (TF) as regulators. Two types of circuits are identified: (i) a TF that regulates both a miRNA and its target and (ii) a miRNA that regulates both a TF and its target.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bisognin
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coppe
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bortoluzzi
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romualdi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012984:Software; D018511:Systems Integration; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D014157:Transcription Factors