Signaling Transduction Networks in Choroidal Melanoma - A Symbolic Model Approach.

Biochemical reactions that take place concurrently in a cell can be explored and analyzed by symbolic systems biology. These cellular processes can be modeled with symbolic mathematical models through the use of rewrite rules. Our goal is to define formal models that capture biologists intuitions and reasoning. Pathway Logic is a system for developing executable formal models of biomolecular processes. Analyses of biological facts can be obtained from such models. Ocular melanoma is the most frequent malignant primary intraocular tumor in adult population and the second most common site of malignant melanoma in the body. The knowledge of the signaling pathways involved in melanoma offers new treatment strategies. In this paper, we provide a symbolic system that explores complex and dynamic cellular signaling processes that induce cellular proliferation and survival in choroidal melanoma.