DFG-Projekt: MicroRNA as an integral part of cell communication: regularized target prediction and network prediction

Projektbeschreibung:
MicroRNAs, gene encoded small RNA molecules, play an integral part in gene regulation by binding to target mRNAs and preventing their translation. The prediction of microRNA-mRNA binding sites and the resulting interaction network are essential to understand, and thus influence, regulation of a genetic information flow inside the living organism. Numerous algorithms have been proposed based on various heuristics; however the predictions often vary considerably. In this project we will extend a physical model for the binding of microRNAs to the corresponding target and establish an extended set of features influencing binding probabilities. We will be faced with the challenge of (i) too many features and (ii) few known interactions on which to train any prediction algorithm. This problem will be solved by using (i) information-theoretical criteria for feature reduction, (ii) regularization, (iii) application of the Infomax approach to guarantee minimal loss of information after dimension reduction, and (iv) experimental validation of theoretical predictions using a novel test system. This strategy will allow (i) statistical analysis of the predicted microRNA-mRNA hypergraph, (ii) characterization of network motives and hierachies, (iii) identification of missing links and (iv) removal of false interactions.

Ansprechpartner: Prof. Dr. Rolf Backofen
Tel: 0049 761 203 7461
Email: backofen@informatik.uni-freiburg.de
Projektlaufzeit:
Projektbeginn: 2010
Projektende: 2011
Projektleitung:
Prof. Dr. Rolf Backofen

Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Bioinformatik
Prof. Dr. Rolf Backofen
Georges-Köhler-Allee 106
79110 Freiburg

Telefon: +49 (0) 761-203-7461
Fax: +49 (0) 761-203-7462
Email: backofen@informatik.uni-freiburg.de
http://www.bioinf.uni-freiburg.de
Kooperationspartner
Prof. Dr. Klaus Palme, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Institut für Biologie II Botanik Prof. Dr. Fabian Theis, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institut für Bioinformatik und Systembiologie
Schlagworte:

    DFG

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