Metabolic networks are almost nonfractal: a comprehensive evaluation.
Metabolic networks are almost nonfractal: a comprehensive evaluation.
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DOI：
10.1103/physreve.90.022802
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发表时间：
2014-07
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影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Kazuhiro Takemoto
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作者：
Kazuhiro Takemoto
网络自相似性或分形性被广泛认为是代谢网络的一种重要拓扑性质；然而，近期的研究对网络中自相似性的真实性提出了质疑。因此，我们使用盒覆盖方法对早期版本和最新版本的代谢网络的分形性进行了综合评估，并证明最新的代谢网络几乎是自不相似的，而早期的代谢网络是分形的，正如之前许多研究中所报道的那样。这一结果可能是因为由于数据库更新导致网络密度增加，网络被随机化了，这表明之前观察到的网络分形性是由于缺乏有关代谢反应的可用数据。这一发现可能不会完全否定代谢网络自相似性的重要性。相反，它强调了需要对网络分形性有一个更合适的定义，并更仔细地研究代谢网络的自相似性。
Network self-similarity or fractality are widely accepted as an important topological property of metabolic networks; however, recent studies cast doubt on the reality of self-similarity in the networks. Therefore, we perform a comprehensive evaluation of metabolic network fractality using a box-covering method with an earlier version and the latest version of metabolic networks and demonstrate that the latest metabolic networks are almost self-dissimilar, while the earlier ones are fractal, as reported in a number of previous studies. This result may be because the networks were randomized because of an increase in network density due to database updates, suggesting that the previously observed network fractality was due to a lack of available data on metabolic reactions. This finding may not entirely discount the importance of self-similarity of metabolic networks. Rather, it highlights the need for a more suitable definition of network fractality and a more careful examination of self-similarity of metabolic networks.