BPE-30303 Metabolic Modelling and Pathway Analysis

Course

Credits 3.00

Language of instruction:

English

Contents:

In this course general principles and techniques for the quantitative analysis of metabolic pathways will be treated. With the increasing efforts in the area of genomics, proteomics and metabolomics, more and more information is becoming available on genomic sequences and the function and expression of genes. In order to genetically modify organisms in a rational and directed manner all this knowledge should be integrated. This can be done with the help of mathematical models of metabolism and techniques like metabolic flux analysis an metabolic control analysis. These models are useful in obtaining quantitative insight in the potential and limitations of the metabolism of an organism. As such they are an effective tool in redirecting metabolic flows towards the production of valuable compounds or in finding new medicines and targets for antimicrobial compounds. The content will be treated using a number of cases like the lysine production by Corynebacterium glutanicum, flavour and aroma production by L. lactis and ethanol production by Zymomonas mobilis.

Learning outcomes:

After this course students are expected to be able to:
-construct a metabolic network based on individual reactions;
-write down the mass balances for the metabolic network and use these for calculation of metabolic fluxes and calculation of product yields;
-use kinetic models of metabolic pathways for metabolic engineering purposes;
- calculate flux control and elasticity coefficients and use them for metabolic engineering purposes;
- discuss the potential and the limitations of metabolic models in relation to metabolic engineering.

Activities:

Following lectures and applying the knowledge in computer simulations.

Examination:

Written.

Literature:

Course material will be distributed at the start of the course.