Dependence of functional vulnerabilities to the parameters of the caspase molecular network

In this paper a systems biology framework for generalized fault diagnosis in the caspase signaling network of biomolecules is studied. This novel method is capable of identifying critical molecules whose dysfunction can affect the network function detrimentally. The generalized vulnerabilities defined and computed in the paper quantify the role of molecules in a complex network. Impact of network input activities and multiple faults are studied as well. The results and methods are useful for quantitative analysis of functional impacts of individual or a group of molecules on the overall performance of molecular signaling networks.