Development of laboratory and computational techniques for optimal and quantitative understanding of cellular metabolic networks

This paper summarizes the development of laboratory and computational techniques for systematic and reliable understanding of metabolic networks. By combining a filter-based cell culture system and an optimized metabolite extraction protocol, a broad array of cellular metabolites can be reliably quantified following nutrient and other environment perturbations. A nonlinear closed-loop procedure was also developed for optimal bionetwork model identification. Computational illustrations and laboratory applications clearly demonstrate the capabilities of these techniques in understanding cellular metabolism, especially when they are integrated in an optimal fashion.