Microarrays Commons^™

A Bayesian Model For Pooling Gene Expression Studies That Incorporates Co-Regulation Information, Erin M. Conlon, Bradley L. L. Postier, Barbara A. Methé, Kelly P. Nevin, Derek R. Lovley

Erin M. Conlon

Current Bayesian microarray models that pool multiple studies assume gene expression is independent of other genes. However, in prokaryotic organisms, genes are arranged in units that are co-regulated (called operons). Here, we introduce a new Bayesian model for pooling gene expression studies that incorporates operon information into the model. Our Bayesian model borrows information from other genes within the same operon to improve estimation of gene expression. The model produces the gene-specific posterior probability of differential expression, which is the basis for inference. We found in simulations and in biological studies that incorporating co-regulation information improves upon the independence model. …