Electronic data sources for kinetic models of cell signaling

Abstract

Functional understanding of signaling pathways requires detailed information about the constituent molecules and their interactions. Simulations of signaling pathways therefore build upon a great deal of data from various sources. We first survey electronic data resources for cell signaling modeling and then based on the type of data representation the data sources are broadly classified into five groups. None of the data sources surveyed provide all required data in a ready-to-be-modeled fashion. We then put forward a wish list for the desired attributes for an ideal modeling centric database. Finally, we close with perspectives on how electronic data sources for cell signaling modeling have developed. We suggest that future directions in such data sources are largely model-driven and are hinged on interoperability of data sources.