Network properties of human disease genes with pleiotropic effects.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The ability of a gene to cause a disease is known to be associated with the topological position of its protein product in the molecular interaction network. Pleiotropy, in human genetic diseases, refers to the ability of different mutations within the same gene to cause different pathological effects. Here, we hypothesized that the ability of human disease genes to cause pleiotropic effects would be associated with their network properties.

Results

Shared genes, with pleiotropic effects, were more central than specific genes that were associated with one disease, in the protein interaction network. Furthermore, shared genes associated with phenotypically divergent diseases (phenodiv genes) were more central than those associated with phenotypically similar diseas

SUBMITTER: Chavali S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2892460 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature