Dynamic genome-based metabolic modeling of the predominant cellulolytic rumen bacterium Fibrobacter succinogenes S85

Fibrobacter succinogenes is a cellulolytic bacterium that plays an essential role in the degradation of plant fibers in the rumen ecosystem. It converts cellulose polymers into intracellular glycogen and the fermentation metabolites succinate, acetate, and formate. We developed dynamic models of F. succinogenes S85 metabolism on glucose, cellobiose, and cellulose on the basis of a network reconstruction done with the automatic reconstruction of metabolic model workspace. The reconstruction was based on genome annotation, five template-based orthology methods, gap filling, and manual curation. The metabolic network of F. succinogenes S85 comprises 1,565 reactions with 77% linked to 1,317 genes, 1,586 unique metabolites, and 931 pathways. The network was reduced using the NetRed algorithm and analyzed for the computation of elementary flux modes. A yield analysis was further performed to select a minimal set of macroscopic reactions for each substrate. The accuracy of the models was acceptable in simulating F. succinogenes carbohydrate metabolism with an average coefficient of variation of the root mean squared error of 19%. The resulting models are useful resources for investigating the metabolic capabilities of F. succinogenes S85, including the dynamics of metabolite production. Such an approach is a key step toward the integration of omics microbial information into predictive models of rumen metabolism. IMPORTANCE F. succinogenes S85 is a cellulose-degrading and succinate-producing bacterium. Such functions are central for the rumen ecosystem and are of special interest for several industrial applications. This work illustrates how information of the genome of F. succinogenes can be translated to develop predictive dynamic models of rumen fermentation processes. We expect this approach can be applied to other rumen microbes for producing a model of rumen microbiome that can be used for studying microbial manipulation strategies aimed at enhancing feed utilization and mitigating enteric emissions.