Detecting the Significant Flux Backbone of Escherichia coli metabolism. Issue 10 (2nd May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Güell, Oriol; Sagués, Francesc; Serrano, M. Ángeles
• Is Part Of: FEBS letters. Volume 591:Issue 10(2017)
• Page Start: 1437
• Page End: 1451
• Publication Date: 2017-05-02
• Subjects: disparity filter -- flux balance analysis -- metabolic backbones -- metabolic networks; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Biophysics -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Biochimie -- Périodiques; Biochemistry; Biophysics; Molecular biology; Periodicals; 572.05
• DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12650
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-5793

Abstract

Abstract : The heterogeneity of computationally predicted reaction fluxes in metabolic networks within a single flux state can be exploited to detect their significant flux backbone. Here, we disclose the backbone of Escherichia coli, and compare it with the backbones of other bacteria. We find that, in general, the core of the backbones is mainly composed of reactions in energy metabolism corresponding to ancient pathways. In E. coli, the synthesis of nucleotides and the metabolism of lipids form smaller cores which rely critically on energy metabolism. Moreover, the consideration of different media leads to the identification of pathways sensitive to environmental changes. The metabolic backbone of an organism is thus useful to trace simultaneously both its evolution and adaptation fingerprints. Abstract :