title: Network topology and parameter estimation: from experimental design methods to gene regulatory network kinetics using a community based approach.
abstract: Accurate estimation of parameters of biochemical models is required to characterize the dynamics of molecular processes. This problem is intimately linked to identifying the most informative experiments for accomplishing such tasks. While significant progress has been made, effective experimental strategies for parameter identification and for distinguishing among alternative network topologies remain unclear. We approached these questions in an unbiased manner using a unique community-based approach in the context of the DREAM initiative (Dialogue for Reverse Engineering Assessment of Methods). We created an in silico test framework under which participants could probe a network with hidden parameters by requesting a range of experimental assays; results of these experiments were simulated according to a model of network dynamics only partially revealed to participants.
  
  
  
  We proposed two challenges; in the first, participants were given the topology and underlying biochemical structure of a 9-gene regulatory network and were asked to determine its parameter values. In the second challenge, participants were given an incomplete topology with 11 genes and asked to find three missing links in the model. In both challenges, a budget was provided to buy experimental data generated in silico with the model and mimicking the features of different common experimental techniques, such as microarrays and fluorescence microscopy. Data could be bought at any stage, allowing participants to implement an iterative loop of experiments and computation.
  
  
  
  A total of 19 teams participated in this competition. The results suggest that the combination of state-of-the-art parameter estimation and a varied set of experimental methods using a few datasets, mostly fluorescence imaging data, can accurately determine parameters of biochemical models of gene regulation. However, the task is considerably more difficult if the gene network topology is not completely defined, as in challenge 2. Importantly, we found that aggregating independent parameter predictions and network topology across submissions creates a solution that can be better than the one from the best-performing submission.
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Meyer
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Cokelaer
authors: Deepak
authors: D
authors: Chandran
authors: Kyung Hyuk
authors: KH
authors: Kim
authors: Po-Ru
authors: PR
authors: Loh
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Tucker
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Lipson
authors: Bonnie
authors: B
authors: Berger
authors: Clemens
authors: C
authors: Kreutz
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Raue
authors: Bernhard
authors: B
authors: Steiert
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Timmer
authors: Erhan
authors: E
authors: Bilal
authors: Herbert M
authors: HM
authors: Sauro
authors: Gustavo
authors: G
authors: Stolovitzky
authors: Julio
authors: J
authors: Saez-Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D007700:Kinetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D013997:Time Factors