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Related Concept Videos

Operon Model01:23

Operon Model

The operon model represents a fundamental mechanism of gene regulation in prokaryotes, enabling coordinated expression of genes involved in related metabolic or functional pathways. Operons consist of structural genes, a promoter, and an operator, with transcription regulated by repressors, activators, and small effector molecules.Structure and Function of OperonsAn operon is a cluster of structural genes transcribed together under the control of a single promoter. The promoter region...
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Evolution of Microbial Genome

Microbial genome evolution is a highly dynamic process shaped by continual gene gain and loss across species and strains. This genomic flexibility allows microorganisms to adapt rapidly to environmental pressures and interactions with other organisms. Central to understanding this diversity is the distinction between the core and pan genomes.The core genome comprises the genes shared by all sampled strains of a species, representing essential functions needed for fundamental cellular processes.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Workflow Based on the Combination of Isotopic Tracer Experiments to Investigate Microbial Metabolism of Multiple Nutrient Sources
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Workflow Based on the Combination of Isotopic Tracer Experiments to Investigate Microbial Metabolism of Multiple Nutrient Sources

Published on: January 22, 2018

Environmental versatility promotes modularity in genome-scale metabolic networks.

Areejit Samal1, Andreas Wagner, Olivier C Martin

  • 1Laboratoire de Physique Théorique et Modèles Statistiques, CNRS and Univ Paris-Sud, UMR 8626, F-91405 Orsay Cedex, France.

BMC Systems Biology
|August 26, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Metabolic network versatility, or the ability to sustain life in diverse environments, drives network modularity. Highly versatile metabolic networks exhibit greater modularity, suggesting this organization is a byproduct of functional constraints.

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Rapid Assembly of Multi-Gene Constructs using Modular Golden Gate Cloning
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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 30, 2026

Workflow Based on the Combination of Isotopic Tracer Experiments to Investigate Microbial Metabolism of Multiple Nutrient Sources
12:47

Workflow Based on the Combination of Isotopic Tracer Experiments to Investigate Microbial Metabolism of Multiple Nutrient Sources

Published on: January 22, 2018

Rapid Assembly of Multi-Gene Constructs using Modular Golden Gate Cloning
08:31

Rapid Assembly of Multi-Gene Constructs using Modular Golden Gate Cloning

Published on: February 5, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Systems Biology
  • Metabolic Engineering
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Biological networks often exhibit modularity, potentially conferring evolutionary advantages.
  • Modularity may arise as a byproduct of functional traits, such as the need to adapt to various environments.
  • Metabolic networks must sustain life across different chemical environments, raising questions about the role of modularity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether metabolic network versatility influences modularity.
  • To explore if functional constraints, like surviving in multiple environments, shape metabolic network organization.
  • To define and analyze metabolic network modules based on reaction flux coupling.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized flux balance analysis (FBA) to study in silico metabolic networks.
  • Employed techniques to randomly sample large numbers of viable metabolic networks.
  • Defined metabolic network modules as maximal sets of fully coupled reactions.

Main Results:

  • Highly versatile metabolic networks demonstrated significantly higher modularity.
  • Versatile networks contained more modules and a greater proportion of reactions organized into modules.
  • Modules in versatile networks often comprised reactions involved in processing nutrients or related compounds.

Conclusions:

  • Metabolic network modularity can emerge as a byproduct of functional requirements, particularly the need for environmental versatility.
  • This principle of modular organization appears robust across different environments and network sizes.
  • The observed modularity in random metabolic networks suggests it may be a generic organizational principle.