edge
Definition
An edge is a connection or relationship between two nodes in a network graph, representing biological interactions, associations, or dependencies. In life sciences networks, edges encode diverse relationships such as protein-protein interactions, gene regulatory connections, metabolic reactions, or drug-target bindings. Edges can be directed (showing causality or flow, like transcription factor → gene) or undirected (mutual interactions, like protein binding partners). They may carry weights representing interaction strength, confidence scores, or quantitative measurements. Understanding edge properties is crucial for interpreting network topology, identifying critical pathways, and discovering how biological components communicate within complex systems.
Visualize edge in Nodes Bio
In Nodes Bio, researchers visualize edges to map biological relationships and analyze network connectivity patterns. Edge styling (thickness, color, direction) can represent interaction confidence, regulatory effects, or pathway flow. Users can filter edges by type or weight to focus on high-confidence interactions, trace signal transduction cascades, or identify bottleneck connections. Edge analysis reveals how perturbations propagate through biological systems, supporting drug target identification and mechanism-of-action studies.
Visualization Ideas:
- Protein-protein interaction networks with weighted edges showing binding affinity
- Gene regulatory networks with directed edges indicating transcriptional control
- Drug-target networks with edges colored by interaction type (inhibition, activation, binding)
Example Use Case
A cancer researcher investigating resistance mechanisms uses Nodes Bio to map kinase signaling networks. Each edge represents a phosphorylation event connecting kinases to substrates, with edge weights indicating interaction strength from phosphoproteomics data. By filtering for high-weight edges and analyzing edge directionality, the researcher identifies an alternative signaling route that bypasses an inhibited kinase. This compensatory pathway, revealed through edge analysis, explains why tumors develop resistance and suggests combination therapy targets to block both the primary and bypass routes.