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SUMMARY:Structural analysis of cellular networks - Prof. Jörg Stelling\, 
 ETH Zürich
DTSTART:20080528T130000Z
DTEND:20080528T140000Z
UID:TALK10653@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Fabien Petitcolas
DESCRIPTION:*Abstract*: The relationship between structure\, function and 
 regulation in complex cellular networks is a still largely open question. 
 It is difficult to address because detailed mechanisms and kinetic paramet
 ers are rarely available. However\, structure-oriented approaches only req
 uire network topology\, which can often be derived from genomic data.\n\nT
 he talk will focus on concepts and methods of structural network analysis\
 , in particular the computation and characteristics of elementary flux mod
 es (EFMs). EFMs are the smallest sub-networks enabling a system to operate
  in steady state and characterize the space of all states that are meaning
 ful for a biological cell. EFM computation is a hard problem - equivalent 
 to vertex enumeration in computational geometry. However\, efficient new a
 lgorithms enable at least medium-scale network analysis. Applications of E
 FMs range from investigating the effects of network perturbations and to p
 redicting cellular control features.\n\nMore recently\, we proposed extens
 ions of EFM applications to analyze systems dynamics based on the chemical
  reaction network theory. For an example network inspired by yeast cell cy
 cle control\, the approach allows for model discrimination\, identificatio
 n of key mechanisms for switching events\, and robustness analysis. Struct
 ural network analysis\, thus\, provides challenging computational science 
 problems as well as broad perspectives for uncovering the organization and
  functionality of cellular networks.\n\n*Biography*: Jörg Stelling heads 
 the Computational Systems Biology group at the Department of Computer Scie
 nce (since 2005) and at the Department of Biosystems Science & Engineering
  of ETH Zurich (since 2008). After an initial training in Biotechnology\, 
 he obtained a PhD in Control & Dynamic Systems applied to biology from Stu
 ttgart University in 2004.\n\nHis research interests are in the fields of 
 analysis and synthesis of biological networks with the help of - and by fu
 rther development of - methods from systems theory and computational scien
 ce. The focus is on developing concepts and tools for network inference\, 
 for system modeling and analysis\, and for experimental design at larger s
 cales in different biological systems. More specifically\, the research ai
 ms at elucidating design principles underlying the function and integratio
 n of cellular networks of different types such as metabolism\, signal tran
 sduction and gene regulation. All projects involve close collaborations wi
 th experimental biologists and computer / systems scientists.
LOCATION:Microsoft Research Ltd\, 7 J J Thomson Avenue (Off Madingley Road
 )\, Cambridge
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