Complex detection in protein-protein interaction networks: A compact overview for researchers and practitioners

Abstract

The availability of large volumes of protein-protein interaction data has allowed the study of biological networks to unveil the complex structure and organization in the cell. It has been recognized by biologists that proteins interacting with each other often participate in the same biological processes, and that protein modules may be often associated with specific biological functions. Thus the detection of protein complexes is an important research problem in systems biology. In this review, recent graph-based approaches to clustering protein interaction networks are described and classified with respect to common peculiarities. The goal is that of providing a useful guide and reference for both computer scientists and biologists. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.