270127 VU Introduction to metabolic modelling (2022S)

Computer models of biochemical networks are able to connect the genotype with the phenotype. In this primer we will give an introduction to biochemical network analysis. We will introduce basic concepts of network reconstruction and constraint based analysis of biological networks. In particular we will cover the process of building (genome scale) metabolic models and study the steady state behavior of these networks with flux balance analysis (FBA) and related methods. Finally we will show that these methods are successfully used in metabolic engineering, where FBA is a standard approach for the rationally designing microbial cell factories.

(*) Basic mathematical concepts in systems biology
(*) Reconstruction of biochemical networks
(*) Stoichiometric networks and their analysis
(*) Applications in biotechnology

After successful completion of this course, students
(*) Understand the challenges in mathematical modeling
(*) Know important types of mathematical models
(*) Are able to set up simple reaction network models
(*) Use metabolic models for exploration and strain design
(*) Know various data sources supporting metabolic analyses