Exploring the human genome with functional maps

Genome Res. 2009 Jun;19(6):1093-106. doi: 10.1101/gr.082214.108. Epub 2009 Feb 26.

Abstract

Human genomic data of many types are readily available, but the complexity and scale of human molecular biology make it difficult to integrate this body of data, understand it from a systems level, and apply it to the study of specific pathways or genetic disorders. An investigator could best explore a particular protein, pathway, or disease if given a functional map summarizing the data and interactions most relevant to his or her area of interest. Using a regularized Bayesian integration system, we provide maps of functional activity and interaction networks in over 200 areas of human cellular biology, each including information from approximately 30,000 genome-scale experiments pertaining to approximately 25,000 human genes. Key to these analyses is the ability to efficiently summarize this large data collection from a variety of biologically informative perspectives: prediction of protein function and functional modules, cross-talk among biological processes, and association of novel genes and pathways with known genetic disorders. In addition to providing maps of each of these areas, we also identify biological processes active in each data set. Experimental investigation of five specific genes, AP3B1, ATP6AP1, BLOC1S1, LAMP2, and RAB11A, has confirmed novel roles for these proteins in the proper initiation of macroautophagy in amino acid-starved human fibroblasts. Our functional maps can be explored using HEFalMp (Human Experimental/Functional Mapper), a web interface allowing interactive visualization and investigation of this large body of information.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Protein Complex 3 / genetics
  • Adaptor Protein Complex 3 / metabolism
  • Adaptor Protein Complex beta Subunits / genetics
  • Adaptor Protein Complex beta Subunits / metabolism
  • Algorithms
  • Amino Acids / metabolism
  • Autophagy / genetics
  • Bayes Theorem
  • Chromosome Mapping / methods*
  • Computational Biology / methods
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Profiling / statistics & numerical data
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Genome, Human / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Lysosomal Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Lysosomal Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 2
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / genetics
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / metabolism
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • AP3B1 protein, human
  • ATP6AP1 protein, human
  • Adaptor Protein Complex 3
  • Adaptor Protein Complex beta Subunits
  • Amino Acids
  • BLOC1S1 protein, human
  • LAMP2 protein, human
  • Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 2
  • Lysosomal Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases
  • rab11 protein
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins