Easy parameter identifiability analysis with COPASI

Background and scope: Differential equation systems modeling biochemical reaction networks can only give quantitative predictions, when they are in accordance with experimental data. However, even if a model can well recapitulate given data, it is often the case that some of its kinetic parameters can be arbitrarily chosen without significantly affecting the simulation results. This indicates a lack of appropriate data to determine those parameters. In this case, the parameter is called to be practically non-identifiable. Well-identified parameters are paramount for reliable quantitative predictions and, therefore, identifiability analysis is an important topic in modeling of biochemical reaction networks. Here, we describe a hidden feature of the free modeling software COPASI, which can be exploited to easily and quickly conduct a parameter identifiability analysis of differential equation systems by calculating likelihood profiles. The proposed combination of an established method for parameter identifiability analysis with the user-friendly features of COPASI offers an easy and rapid access to parameter identifiability analysis even for non-experts. Availability: COPASI is freely available for academic use at http://www.copasi.org. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.