shortest-path network analysis is a useful approach toward identifying genetic determinants of longevity最短路径网络分析是一种有用的方法对识别基因长寿的决定因素.pdfVIP

Shortest-Path Network Analysis Is a Useful Approach toward Identifying Genetic Determinants of Longevity 1 1 1,2 3 3 J. R. Managbanag , Tarynn M. Witten *, Danail Bonchev , Lindsay A. Fox , Mitsuhiro Tsuchiya , Brian K. 3 4 Kennedy , Matt Kaeberlein * 1 Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America, 2 Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America, 3 Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America, 4 Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America Abstract Background: Identification of genes that modulate longevity is a major focus of aging-related research and an area of intense public interest. In addition to facilitating an improved understanding of the basic mechanisms of aging, such genes represent potential targets for therapeutic intervention in multiple age-associated diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. To date, however, targeted efforts at identifying longevity-associated genes have been limited by a lack of predictive power, and useful algorithms for candidate gene-identification have also been lacking. Methodology/Principal Findings: We have utilized a shortest-path network analysis to identify novel genes that modulate longevity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Based on a set of previously reported genes associated with increased life span, we applied a shortest-path network algorithm to a pre-existing protein–protein interaction dataset in order to