Network modules help the identification of key transport routes, signaling pathways in cellular and other networks

TL;DR

This paper reviews how network modules influence transport and signaling pathways in complex systems, proposing a computational approach to identify key pathways using modular structures, with applications in various fields.

Contribution

It introduces a method to determine signaling pathways by analyzing overlapping network modules and their spatial relationships within the network.

Findings

Overlapping modular structures are crucial in network transport.

Locating network elements in module space can approximate signaling pathways.

The approach has potential applications in traffic control and drug design.

Abstract

Complex systems are successfully reduced to interacting elements via the network concept. Transport plays a key role in the survival of networks. For example the specialized signaling cascades of cellular networks filter noise and efficiently adapt the network structure to new stimuli. However, our general understanding of transport mechanisms and signaling pathways in complex systems is yet limited. Here we summarize the key network structures involved in transport, list the solutions available to overloaded systems for relaxing their load and outline a possible method for the computational determination of signaling pathways. We highlight that in addition to hubs, bridges and the network skeleton, the overlapping modular structure is also essential in network transport. Moreover, by locating network elements in the space of overlapping network modules and evaluating their distance in this "module space", it may be possible to approximate signaling pathways computationally, which, in turn could serve the identification of signaling pathways of complex systems. Our model may be applicable in a wide range of fields including traffic control or drug design.