The protein network as a tool for finding novel drug targets

Proteins are often referred to as the molecular workhorses of the cell since they are responsible for the majority of functions within a living cell. From the generation of energy, to the replication of DNA, proteins play a central role in most cellular functions. Because of their importance to cellular viability, proteins are commonly the target of therapeutic drugs, ranging from antimicrobial to anticancer drugs. With the rise of drug resistant and multi-drug resistant forms of many diseases, it has become increasingly important to develop new strategies to identify alternative drug targets. One such strategy arises from the analysis of protein networks. Protein networks help define individual proteins within the context of all other cellular proteins. In this chapter we discuss methods for the identification and analysis of genome-wide protein networks, and discuss how protein networks can be used to aid the identification of novel drug targets.