Computing biological functions using BioPsi, a formal description of biological processes based on elementary bricks of actions.

ABSTRACT:

Motivation

In the available databases, biological processes are described from molecular and cellular points of view, but these descriptions are represented with text annotations that make it difficult to handle them for computation. Consequently, there is an obvious need for formal descriptions of biological processes.

Results

We present a formalism that uses the BioPsi concepts to model biological processes from molecular details to networks. This computational approach, based on elementary bricks of actions, allows us to calculate on biological functions (e.g. process comparison, mapping structure-function relationships, etc.). We illustrate its application with two examples: the functional comparison of proteases and the functional description of the glycolysis network.

SUBMITTER: Peres S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2881354 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature