BioNetGen
BioNetGen (stands for Biological Network
Generator) is a set of software tools for rule-based
modeling. Rule-based modeling can be described with the help of the BioNetGen Language (BNGL). The software
and language are described in Faeder JR, Blinov ML, and
Hlavacek WS (2009). Rule-based modeling of biochemical systems with BioNetGen.
In Systems biology (pp. 113-167). Humana Press.
Compartments
A compartment is a volume structure and associated membrane
structure. For example, the cyoplasmic compartment would consist of cytosol (a volume structure) and plasma membrane
(a membrane structure).
Deterministic
A deterministic application uses numerical methods to
solve for average concentrations over defined areas of space determined by a geometric grid using partial differential
equations. A deterministic simulation is valid as long as the concentrations of a simulated population are high.
However, if the concentrations are very low the biology is more accurately simulated by discrete, stochastic approach.
"Compartmental" simulations are a special case of deterministic applications where concentrations are assumed to be
uniform throughout each compartment and thus each compartment is presented by a single point simulation. Compartmental
models are not spatially resolved and they are solved using nonlinear ordinary differential equations. These equations are
generally computed within seconds.
Global Parameter
A global parameter is identical whereever the term is used.
Changing the parameter is one context will change the parameter where ever it is used.
Local Parameter
A local parameter is unique to the context in which it is used. A
similar parameter name in a different context will have a unique value.
Mesh
A VCell mesh is a set of discrete elements (1, 2, or 3 dimensional) defining the spatial domain on which mathematical operations of spatial solvers occur.
VCell meshs are regular grids created by dividing space (geometry size) in each dimension for form a lattice of cells (mesh size).
The user sets the geometry size (simulation world length in each dimension) and mesh size
(number of discretely defined spatial elements in each dimension) when creating a simulation.
Together the geometry size and mesh size define the simulation world size of each mesh cell.
In regular grids, larger mesh size values (increasing number of grid cells) result in finer subdivision of space (geometry size) and increase memory and file resource requirements.
Geometry size values have no effect on memory or file resource requirements.
Membrane
A membrane is a 2-dimensional structure in a VCell model.
Species contained within membranes have units of density (number per um squared). Membrane species may participate
with volume species in reactions, or reactions may occur only among membrane species. Membrane flux reactions occur
within membranes and have reactants and products in the adjacent volume structures.
Molecule
Molecules are the principal component of rule-based model specification.
They are used to create Species and to define Reaction Rules and Observables.
Molecules are structured objects comprised of sites that can bind other sites, either within a single molecule or between molecules.
NetworkFree
Network-free simulation of rule-based
models is performed without generation of the reaction network. Rather than generating
and tracking all possible chemical species,
network-free approache follows only the molecular configurations that exist at a given time. It is described in
Sneddon MW, Faeder JR, and Emonet T. (2011).
Efficient modeling, simulation and coarse-graining of biological complexity with NFsim.
Nature methods, 8(2), 177-183.
NFSim
NFSim (stands for Network-Free Simulator)
is a software tool for simulation of rule-based models using
network-free simulation. It is described in
Sneddon MW, Faeder JR, and Emonet T. (2011).
Efficient modeling, simulation and coarse-graining of biological complexity with NFsim.
Nature methods, 8(2), 177-183.
Observable
Observables are used to specify the outputs of a rule-based model; they are functions of the total population of multiple species that share a set of properties.
Pathway Commons
Pathway Commons mirrors the content of ten major pathway databases, providing 3,436 pathways including 565,977
interactions and 116,073 physical entities from 1,295 organisms.
Property Pane
Properties of any selected item are displayed in the
bottom right pane of the VCell window.
Reactions
Reactions are defined by rates of change of reactants and products.
Reactions can involve volume species within a single volume structure, membrane species within a single membrane structure
or they can involved membrane species and volume species of a neighboring volume structure. Reaction kinetics can be
modified by catalysts. Fluxes are a special class of reactions that involve volume species as reactants and volume species within a neighboring volume separate by a
common membrane structure.
Reaction Rules
Reaction rule defines transformation of multiple species at once.
Species to be transformed are selected by reactant pattern(s).
Product pattern(s) define the end result of transformation. Product pattern may differ
from reactant by re-assigning molecules, adding or deleting bonds and changing site states.
A reaction rule may generate multiple individual reactions.
Every reaction generated by the reaction rule is assigned a rate law given by the product of a
multiplicity factor generated automatically by BioNetGen ,
the specified rate constants (which may be a numerical value or a formula),
and the population levels of the reactants.
Rule-Based
Rule-based modeling involves
the representation of molecules as structured objects and molecular interactions as rules for
transforming the attributes of these objects. The approach is notable in that it allows one
to systematically incorporate site-specific details about protein–protein interactions into a model for the
dynamics of a signal-transduction system, but the method has other applications as well, such as following
the fates of individual carbon atoms in metabolic reactions. The consequences of protein–protein
interactions are difficult to specify and track with a conventional modeling approach because of the large number
of protein phosphoforms and protein complexes that these interactions potentially generate.
Seed Species
The species with molecular composition and non-zero initial values. They are used by BioNetGen and NFSim simulation engines
as a starting set of species for application of rules.
Species
Species are any group of molecules/entities that exist within structures (either membranes or compartments) and
can be acted upon by reactions or fluxes. Species are unique to a particular structural class (e.g. cytosol,
nuclear membrane) for all instances of a given class. Older version of VCell append species context to the given
name (e..g a species called "Calcium" within "Cytosol" was given the name Calcium_cytoplasm
Statistical Factor
In some cases, a reaction generated by a rule can occur in multiple ways that
are indistinguishable. For example, a rule A.A -> A.A' can be applied in two different ways: either the first
A wil be modified, or the second A will be modified. In these cases, the single-site rule rate law
is multiplied by a statistical factor to obtain the rate of the reaction.
Stochastic
Stochastic simulations use numerical methods to solve for
numbers of molecules in a defined region of space using probabilistic methods, where each molecule and event is
treated individually. Stochastic simulations are required where concentrations of molecules are very low.
Hybrid Deterministic Stochastic
A type of stochastic simulation that is defined within a BioModel application having a
spatial geometry and at least 1 species specification that has been set to 'Force Continuous'.
Structure
A structure in VCell is a spatial element that can have 1,2, or 3
dimensions. Structures contain species and reactions, a three-dimensional structure is a volume and its species have
units of concentration. Membranes are two dimensional structures and have units of molecules per micrometer squared.
Symmetry Factor
The rate law associated with a rule is a microscopic rate for reactions of the form A+B -> products().
If a rule generates a reaction of the form A+A -> products(s), a reaction rate for such
reaction is multiplied by a symmetry factor of 1/2.
Volume
A volume in VCell is a 3 dimensional structure. Species within a volume structure have units of concentration.
All volume structures except the outermost structure in the topology are bounded by membrane structures.