Network analysis of Urocortins.

OBJECTIVES: Urocortins (Ucns), members of corticotropin releasing factor family, play critical roles in a number of pathological and physiological conditions. Many proteins have been reported to participate in Ucns signaling pathways, which formed complex interaction networks.

METHODS: STITCH ('search tool for interactions of chemicals') is an interaction network database that provides exploration of the known and predicted interactions among large sets of chemicals and proteins.

RESULTS: In this study, using STITCH, interaction networks of Ucns were constructed by database mining, and then their topological parameters and important nodes were analyzed by network related tools. This may help a quick and thorough overview of the Ucns mechanisms underlying in a visual format.