Coalitional games on biological networks to measure the power of genes

The interpretation of gene interaction in biological networks generates the need for a meaningful ranking of network elements. We introduce a new approach using coalitional games to evaluate the centrality of genes in networks keeping into account genes interactions. The Shapley value for coalitional games is used to express the power of each gene in interaction with the others and to stress the centrality of certain hub genes in the regulation of biological pathways of interest. In addition, the new approach allows for the integration of a priori knowledge about genes.