A statistical mechanics approach to the sample deconvolution problem

Abstract

In a multicellular organism different cell types express a gene in different amounts. Samples from which gene expression levels can be measured typically contain a mixture of different cell types, the resulting measurements thus give only averages over the different cell types present. Based on fluctuations in the mixture proportions from sample to sample it is in principle possible to reconstruct the underlying expression levels of each cell type: to deconvolute the sample. We use a statistical mechanics approach to the problem of deconvoluting such partial concentrations from mixed samples, give analytical results for when and how well samples can be unmixed, and suggest an algorithm for sample deconvolution.