Attribution assignment for deep-generative sequence models enables interpretability analysis using positive-only data

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Frank, Robert, Widrich, Michael, Akbar, Rahmad, Klambauer, Günter, Sandve, Geir Kjetil, Robert, Philippe A., Greiff, Victor
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Frank, Robert
Widrich, Michael
Akbar, Rahmad
Klambauer, Günter
Sandve, Geir Kjetil
Robert, Philippe A.
Greiff, Victor
author_facet Frank, Robert
Widrich, Michael
Akbar, Rahmad
Klambauer, Günter
Sandve, Geir Kjetil
Robert, Philippe A.
Greiff, Victor
contents Generative machine learning models offer a powerful framework for therapeutic design by efficiently exploring large spaces of biological sequences enriched for desirable properties. Unlike supervised learning methods, which require both positive and negative labeled data, generative models such as LSTMs can be trained solely on positively labeled sequences, for example, high-affinity antibodies. This is particularly advantageous in biological settings where negative data are scarce, unreliable, or biologically ill-defined. However, the lack of attribution methods for generative models has hindered the ability to extract interpretable biological insights from such models. To address this gap, we developed Generative Attribution Metric Analysis (GAMA), an attribution method for autoregressive generative models based on Integrated Gradients. We assessed GAMA using synthetic datasets with known ground truths to characterize its statistical behavior and validate its ability to recover biologically relevant features. We further demonstrated the utility of GAMA by applying it to experimental antibody-antigen binding data. GAMA enables model interpretability and the validation of generative sequence design strategies without the need for negative training data.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_23182
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Attribution assignment for deep-generative sequence models enables interpretability analysis using positive-only data
Frank, Robert
Widrich, Michael
Akbar, Rahmad
Klambauer, Günter
Sandve, Geir Kjetil
Robert, Philippe A.
Greiff, Victor
Machine Learning
Quantitative Methods
Generative machine learning models offer a powerful framework for therapeutic design by efficiently exploring large spaces of biological sequences enriched for desirable properties. Unlike supervised learning methods, which require both positive and negative labeled data, generative models such as LSTMs can be trained solely on positively labeled sequences, for example, high-affinity antibodies. This is particularly advantageous in biological settings where negative data are scarce, unreliable, or biologically ill-defined. However, the lack of attribution methods for generative models has hindered the ability to extract interpretable biological insights from such models. To address this gap, we developed Generative Attribution Metric Analysis (GAMA), an attribution method for autoregressive generative models based on Integrated Gradients. We assessed GAMA using synthetic datasets with known ground truths to characterize its statistical behavior and validate its ability to recover biologically relevant features. We further demonstrated the utility of GAMA by applying it to experimental antibody-antigen binding data. GAMA enables model interpretability and the validation of generative sequence design strategies without the need for negative training data.
title Attribution assignment for deep-generative sequence models enables interpretability analysis using positive-only data
topic Machine Learning
Quantitative Methods
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.23182