Information-theoretic analysis of multivariate single-cell signaling responses

PLoS Comput Biol. 2019 Jul 12;15(7):e1007132. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007132. eCollection 2019 Jul.

Abstract

Mathematical methods of information theory appear to provide a useful language to describe how stimuli are encoded in activities of signaling effectors. Exploring the information-theoretic perspective, however, remains conceptually, experimentally and computationally challenging. Specifically, existing computational tools enable efficient analysis of relatively simple systems, usually with one input and output only. Moreover, their robust and readily applicable implementations are missing. Here, we propose a novel algorithm, SLEMI-statistical learning based estimation of mutual information, to analyze signaling systems with high-dimensional outputs and a large number of input values. Our approach is efficient in terms of computational time as well as sample size needed for accurate estimation. Analysis of the NF-κB single-cell signaling responses to TNF-α reveals that NF-κB signaling dynamics improves discrimination of high concentrations of TNF-α with a relatively modest impact on discrimination of low concentrations. Provided R-package allows the approach to be used by computational biologists with only elementary knowledge of information theory.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Computational Biology
  • Humans
  • Information Theory
  • Logistic Models
  • Models, Biological*
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Probability
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Single-Cell Analysis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • NF-kappa B
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Grants and funding

TJ was supported by his own funds and the European Commission Research Executive Agency under grant CIG PCIG12-GA-2012- 334298; KN by Polish National Science Centre under grant 2016/23/N/ST6/03505; TW by IUVENTUS PLUS grant IP2012016572; MK by the Polish National Science Centre under grant 2015/17/B/NZ2/03692 and Foundation for Polish Science within the First TEAM (First TEAM/2017-3/21) programme co-financed by the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.