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Simulating Metabolic Flexibility in Low Energy Expenditure Conditions Using Genome-Scale Metabolic Models
Andrea Cabbia1, Peter A J Hilbers1, Natal A W van Riel1,2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Computational Biology, Eindhoven University of Technology, Groene Loper 5, 5612 AE Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Metabolites
|October 22, 2021
Summary
Metabolic flexibility, the body's ability to switch energy sources, is crucial for health. This study introduces a new model accounting for energy expenditure, revealing its link to physical activity and nutrition in older adults.
Area of Science:
- * Human metabolism and systems biology.
- * Computational biology and bioinformatics.
- * Nutritional science and exercise physiology.
Background:
- * Metabolic flexibility is vital for cardio-metabolic health and healthy aging in humans.
- * Genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) simulate metabolic flexibility using the Respiratory Quotient (RQ).
- * The impact of low energy expenditure and sedentary behavior on metabolic inflexibility is under-researched.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To develop an updated GEM description of metabolic flexibility incorporating energy expenditure.
- * To investigate the interplay between physical activity and nutrition in skeletal muscle metabolism.
- * To analyze metabolic flexibility in older adults using patient-derived models.
Main Methods:
- * Utilized genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) to simulate metabolic flexibility.
- * Incorporated energy expenditure into the GEM framework.
- * Analyzed patient-derived skeletal muscle metabolic models from older adults.
Main Results:
- * Fuel choice in metabolic networks is significantly influenced by ATP consumption rate.
- * The capacity for adaptive fuel utilization is an inherent characteristic of metabolic networks.
- * Simulations highlighted the sensitivity of fuel selection to energy demand across all tested models.
Conclusions:
- * Metabolic flexibility is intrinsically linked to the metabolic network's ability to manage energy expenditure.
- * Physical activity and nutrition interact significantly in regulating metabolic flexibility, particularly in older adults.
- * The developed GEM approach provides a novel framework for studying metabolic inflexibility and its determinants.
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