MetaLigand provides a prior-knowledge-guided framework for predicting non-peptide ligand mediated cell-cell communication.

ABSTRACT: Non-peptide ligands (NPLs), including lipids, amino acids, carbohydrates, and non-peptide neurotransmitters and hormones, play a critical role in ligand-receptor-mediated cell-cell communication, driving diverse physiological and pathological processes. To facilitate the study of NPL-dependent intercellular interactions, we introduce MetaLigand, a tool designed to infer NPL availability and NPL-receptor interactions using transcriptomic data. MetaLigand compiles data for 233 NPLs, including their biosynthetic enzymes, transporter genes, and receptor genes, through a combination of automated pipelines and manual curation from comprehensive databases. The tool integrates both de novo and salvage synthesis pathways, incorporating multiple biosynthetic steps and transport mechanisms. Compariso

SUBMITTER: Xin Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12664886 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature