The Wavelet Transformation for Temporal Gene Expression Analysis

A variety of high throughput methods have made it possible to generate detailed temporal expression data for a single gene or large numbers of genes. Methods for analysis of these large data sets can be problematic. One challenge is the comparison of temporal expression data obtained from different growth conditions where the patterns of expression may be shifted in time. We propose the use of wavelet analysis to transform the data obtained under different growth conditions to permit comparison of expression patterns from experiments that have time shifts or delays. We demonstrate this approach using detailed temporal data for a single bacterial gene obtained under 72 different growth conditions. This general strategy for can be applied in the analysis of data sets of thousands of genes during cellular differentiation and response.