Dynamic Network Reconstruction from Gene Expression Data Describing the Effect of LiCl Stimulation on Hepatocytes
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doi:10.2390/biecoll-jib-2005-15
August 18, 2005
December 12, 2005
S. Zellmer, W. Schmidt-Heck, F. Gaunitz, A. Baldysiak-Figiel, R. Guthke and R. Gebhardt
Correspondence should be addressed to:
Sebastian Zellmer
Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 16, 04103 Leipzig
ed.gizpiel-inu.nizidem@nullremllez.naitsabes
Abstract
Wnt/beta-catenin signalling plays an important role in zonation of liver parenchyma and in patterning of hepatocyte heterogeneity. A characteristic marker of this heterogeneity is glutamine synthetase, which is expressed only in a subset of pericentrally located hepatocytes. To investigate, whether and how the Wnt/beta-catenin signalling pathway is involved a culture of hepatocytes was stimulated by LiCl. This resulted in an increase in the specific GS activity, indicating that the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway may participate in regulating GS levels. Affymetrix GeneChip oligonucleotide arrays were used to monitor the gene expression changes during a period from 2 to 24 hours after stimulation by LiCl. Samples from a cultivation without stimulation were used as controls. Based on the gene expression profiles a hypothetic signal transduction network was constructed by a reverse engineering algorithm. The network robustness was tested and the most stable structure was identified.