Functional Alignment of Regulatory Networks: A Study of Temperate Phages

Abstract

The realationship between the design and functionality of moiecyfar networks is now a key Issue in bioaogy. Comparison of regulatory networks performing similar tasks can provide irssights into how network architecture Is constrained by the functions it directs. Here, we discuss methods of network comparison based ors network architecture arsd sigrtafirtg [ogle. Introducing Socal arsd global signafiitg scores for the difference between two networks, we quantify similarities between evolutionarily closely and distantly related bacteriophages. Despite the Sarge evolutionary separation between phage λ and 186, their networks are foimd to be simuar when difference is measured in terms of global sigrsaung. We finaHy discuss how network augrsmerst can be used to pinpoint protean similarities viewed from the network perspective. Copyright: © 2005 Trusina et al.