Inference and prediction of metabolic network fluxes

Abstract

In this Update, we cover the basic principles of the estimation and prediction of the rates of the many interconnected biochemical reactions that constitute plant metabolic networks. This includes metabolic flux analysis approaches that utilize the rates or patterns of redistribution of stable isotopes of carbon and other atoms to estimate fluxes, as well as constraints-based optimization approaches such as flux balance analysis. Some of the major insights that have been gained from analysis of fluxes in plants are discussed, including the functioning of metabolic pathways in a network context, the robustness of the metabolic phenotype, the importance of cell maintenance costs, and the mechanisms that enable energy and redox balancing at steady state. We also discuss methodologies to exploit 'omic data sets for the construction of tissue-specific metabolic network models and to constrain the range of permissible fluxes in such models. Finally, we consider the future directions and challenges faced by the field of metabolic network flux phenotyping.The metabolic systems of plants utilize a continual energy stream (i.e. light in the case of photosynthetic tissues and chemical energy in the case of heterotrophic tissues) to drive a complex network of hundreds of chemical reactions away from equilibrium. Ultimately, this leads to the catalyzed biosynthesis of the ordered polymeric biomolecules that make up the biomass of the cells in each tissue and underpins the growth and development of the plant (Smith and Stitt, 2007). To operate on a time scale relevant for life, the system is dependent upon the acceleration of its chemistry by enzymes. Additionally, because of the highly compartmented nature of plant cells, transporter proteins are required to permit the movement of metabolites (i.e. the substrates and products of biochemical reactions) between subcellular compartments. Transporter proteins are also required to bring substrates into cells and to allow the excretion of waste products and other metabolites such as defense compounds. The sum total of expressed genes encoding enzymes and metabolite transporters determines the metabolic capabilities of a cell. In a growing tissue, the net output of this metabolism is anabolic (i.e. leading to the biosynthesis of biomass constituents such as starch, fructans, cell wall, lipid, and protein), but catabolic metabolism is also required. Most importantly, catabolism generates universal energy currencies such as ATP and NAD(P)H, whose turnover is used to provide the energetic driving force for anabolism. Catabolism is also important to allow the turnover of cellular components for regulatory and repair purposes (Linster et al., 2013;Ishihara et al., 2015). The turnover and resynthesis of cellular components, along with the maintenance of electrochemical potentials across membranes, are important facets of metabolism that need to be considered alongside the biosynthesis of macromolecules for growth (Stitt, 2013;Sweetlove et al., 2013).Metabolism, then, is the entirety of c...

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