A Simple and Flexible Computational Framework for Inferring Sources of Heterogeneity from Single-Cell Dynamics


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Date

2019-01-23

Publication Type

Journal Article

ETH Bibliography

yes

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Abstract

Single-cell time-lapse data provide the means for disentangling sources of cell-to-cell and intra-cellular variability, a key step for understanding heterogeneity in cell populations. However, single-cell analysis with dynamic models is a challenging open problem: current inference methods address only single-gene expression or neglect parameter correlations. We report on a simple, flexible, and scalable method for estimating cell-specific and population-average parameters of non-linear mixed-effects models of cellular networks, demonstrating its accuracy with a published model and dataset. We also propose sensitivity analysis for identifying which biological sub-processes quantitatively and dynamically contribute to cell-to-cell variability. Our application to endocytosis in yeast demonstrates that dynamic models of realistic size can be developed for the analysis of single-cell data and that shifting the focus from single reactions or parameters to nuanced and time-dependent contributions of sub-processes helps biological interpretation. Generality and simplicity of the approach will facilitate customized extensions for analyzing single-cell dynamics.

Publication status

published

Editor

Book title

Journal / series

Cell Systems

Volume

8 (1)

Pages / Article No.

15 - 2600000000000

Publisher

Elsevier

Event

Edition / version

Methods

Software

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Date collected

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Subject

Cell-to-cell variability; non-linear mixed-effects models; Network inference; Time-lapse imaging; systems biology; endocytosis

Organisational unit

03699 - Stelling, Jörg / Stelling, Jörg check_circle

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