What is the purpose of pathway analysis in biomedical research?
Pathway analysis is used in biomedical research to identify and understand biological pathways linked to particular diseases or conditions, interpret complex genomic data, and highlight potential targets for therapeutic intervention by analyzing how genes, proteins, and other molecules interact within cells.
How does pathway analysis help in understanding disease mechanisms?
Pathway analysis helps in understanding disease mechanisms by identifying and interpreting biological pathways that are altered in diseases. It provides insights into the molecular interactions and functional processes that are disrupted, facilitating the identification of key genes and proteins involved in disease progression and potential therapeutic targets.
What are the common tools used for pathway analysis?
Common tools for pathway analysis include KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes), Reactome, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery). These tools help interpret biological data by mapping genes or proteins to known biological pathways.
What types of data are required to perform pathway analysis?
To perform pathway analysis, typically genomic or transcriptomic data, such as gene expression levels from RNA sequencing or microarrays, proteomic data, or metabolomic data, are required. Additionally, annotation data including pathway databases like KEGG, Reactome, or Gene Ontology are essential for contextual interpretation.
How does pathway analysis contribute to drug discovery and development?
Pathway analysis aids drug discovery by identifying biological pathways involved in diseases, revealing potential drug targets. It helps in understanding mechanism of action, predicting drug effects, and assessing off-target interactions. Additionally, it supports biomarker identification for drug response evaluation and personalized medicine development.