Reconstructing hidden protein activity by nonparameteric methods

Lorenz Wernisch, Iosifina Pournara

Most of the cellular processes are not accessible to direct
measurements. For example, the level of protein activities can often
only be assessed indirectly by their effects on gene expression or the
modification of other proteins. The exact form of the functional
relationships describing such interactions are unknown as
well. Nevertheless, some progress can be made by combining factor
analysis or dynamical models with nonparametric regression methods,
which don't impose any form on reconstructed functions. On the other
hand, identifiability becomes are major problem and needs to be
balanced against flexibility.  I will report on our experience with
simulated and experimental data in exploring the limits of
reconstructing hidden protein activities and interaction networks.