title: Network motifs provide signatures that characterize metabolism.
abstract: Motifs are repeating patterns that determine the local properties of networks. In this work, we characterized all 3-node motifs using enzyme commission numbers of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to show that motif abundance is related to biochemical function. Further, we present a comparative analysis of motif distributions in the metabolic networks of 21 species across six kingdoms of life. We found the distribution of motif abundances to be similar between species, but unique across cellular organelles. Finally, we show that motifs are able to capture inter-species differences in metabolic networks and that molecular differences between some biological species are reflected by the distribution of motif abundances in metabolic networks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, USA.
authors.forename: Erin R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Shellman
authors.forename: Charles F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Burant
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schnell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D004798:Enzymes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D017021:Methanosarcina barkeri / Q000201:enzymology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology; D008954:Models, Biological; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D010944:Plants / Q000201:enzymology; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000201:enzymology; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D004798:Enzymes; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins