JigCell Run Manager (JC-RM): a tool for managing large sets of biochemical model parametrizations

PyCoTools: a Python toolbox for COPASI

Motivation

COPASI is an open source software package for constructing, simulating and analyzing dynamic models of biochemical networks. COPASI is primarily intended to be used with a graphical user interface but often it is desirable to be able to access COPASI features programmatically, with a high level interface.

Results

PyCoTools is a Python package aimed at providing a high level interface to COPASI tasks with an emphasis on model calibration. PyCoTools enables the construction of COPASI models and the execution of a subset of COPASI tasks including time courses, parameter scans and parameter estimations. Additional ‘composite’ tasks which use COPASI tasks as building blocks are available for increasing parameter estimation throughput, performing identifiability analysis and performing model selection. PyCoTools supports exploratory data analysis on parameter estimation data to assist with troubleshooting model calibrations. We demonstrate PyCoTools by posing a model selection problem designed to show case PyCoTools within a realistic scenario. The aim of the model selection problem is to test the feasibility of three alternative hypotheses in explaining experimental data derived from neonatal dermal fibroblasts in response to TGF-β over time. PyCoTools is used to critically analyze the parameter estimations and propose strategies for model improvement.

Availability and implementation

PyCoTools can be downloaded from the Python Package Index (PyPI) using the command ’pip install pycotools’ or directly from GitHub (https://github.com/CiaranWelsh/pycotools). Documentation at http://pycotools.readthedocs.io.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Efficiently Encoding Complex Biochemical Models with the Multistate Model Builder (MSMB)

Biologists seek to create increasingly complex molecular regulatory network models. Writing such a model is a creative effort that requires flexible analysis tools and better modeling languages than offered by many of today's biochemical model editors. Our Multistate Model Builder (MSMB) supports multistate models created using different modeling styles that suit the modeler rather than the software. MSMB defines a simple but powerful syntax to describe multistate species. Our syntax reduces the number of reactions needed to encode the model, thereby reducing the cognitive load involved with model creation. MSMB gives extensive feedback during all stages of model creation. Users can activate error notifications, and use these notifications as a guide toward a consistent, syntactically correct model. Any consistent model can be exported to SBML or COPASI formats. We show the effectiveness of MSMB's multistate syntax through realistic models of cell cycle regulation and mRNA transcription. MSMB is an open-source project implemented in Java and it uses the COPASI API. Complete information and the installation package can be found at http://copasi.org/Projects/ .