QuateXelero: an accelerated exact network motif detection algorithm

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 18;8(7):e68073. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068073. Print 2013.

Abstract

Finding motifs in biological, social, technological, and other types of networks has become a widespread method to gain more knowledge about these networks' structure and function. However, this task is very computationally demanding, because it is highly associated with the graph isomorphism which is an NP problem (not known to belong to P or NP-complete subsets yet). Accordingly, this research is endeavoring to decrease the need to call NAUTY isomorphism detection method, which is the most time-consuming step in many existing algorithms. The work provides an extremely fast motif detection algorithm called QuateXelero, which has a Quaternary Tree data structure in the heart. The proposed algorithm is based on the well-known ESU (FANMOD) motif detection algorithm. The results of experiments on some standard model networks approve the overal superiority of the proposed algorithm, namely QuateXelero, compared with two of the fastest existing algorithms, G-Tries and Kavosh. QuateXelero is especially fastest in constructing the central data structure of the algorithm from scratch based on the input network.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Classification / methods
  • Computer Simulation
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Pattern Recognition, Automated / methods*
  • Time Factors

Grants and funding

No current external funding sources for this study.