Research

Life is based on robust networks of interacting biomolecules which mediate and regulate cellular processes. Networks are responsive to many different internal and external signals to control superior cellular functions like growth, proliferation, differentiation, motility, or apoptosis, and often involve decision-making biochemical reactions.

The Molecular Network Analysis Group explores ways to identify regulatory networks, to determine their structure (topology), and to analyse their function in terms of dynamic behaviour.

We focus on three major tasks:

• Identify, on a systematic basis, molecular building blocks (the nodes) of a network
• Find out how they are functionally interconnected (wired up) and reconstruct the network topology
• Analyse the dynamic behaviour of the interacting molecules and understand its functional relevance

These tasks are addressed through a combination of experimental and computational approaches performed in the lab and in cooperation with both theoreticians and molecular biologists.

Research on two model systems, on a small and a large molecular network allows us to work at different levels of molecular complexity, which may be helpful to develop computational approaches that are widely applicable to molecular cell biology and genetics.

Learn more:

• The swimming behaviour of Halobacterium cells controlled by a small protein interaction network
• Cell differentiation in Physarum polycephalum controlled by a large genetic network
• Why are cell signaling and differentiation important?

Recent publications:

• Marwan, W., A. Wagler, and R. Weismantel. 2008. A mathematical approach to solve the network reconstruction problem. Math. Meth. Oper. Res. 67:117-132.
• Glöckner, G., G. Golderer, G. Werner-Felmayer, S. Meyer, and W. Marwan. 2008. A first glimpse at the transcriptome of Physarum polycephalum. BMC Genomics. 9:6.
• Nutsch, T., D. Oesterhelt, E. D. Gilles, and W. Marwan. 2005. A Quantitative Model of the Switch Cycle of an Archaeal Flagellar Motor and its Sensory Control. Biophys. J. 89:2307-2323.
• Marwan, W., A. Sujatha, and C. Starostzik. 2005. Reconstructing the regulatory network controling commitment and sporulation in Physarum polycephalum based on hierarchical Petri net modeling and simulation. J. Theor. Biol. 236:349-365.