The Quantitative Modelling of Cell Metabolism group focuses on developing mathematical models to explore and explain the molecular basis for homeostasis – the self-regulating processes evolved to maintain metabolic equilibrium.
Studying homeostasis is relevant for the understanding and treatment of complex diseases, particularly with the emergence of personalised medicine.
It is equally important when we seek to repurpose the cellular machinery for the production of desired chemicals, materials and pharmaceuticals. In this process, the cells’ homeostatic control mechanisms must be either disabled or exploited.
Cellular reactions are catalysed by enzymes. In order to model homeostasis, we need to model the kinetics of all the enzymes involved in cellular metabolism and the regulation of their expression.
The section's main objectives are to:
- Develop the tools needed to formulate and fit large network kinetic models
- Explore several aberrant metabolic phenotypes, including the Warburg Effect in cancer cells, and common genetic disorders of red blood cell metabolism
- Explore several product models in E. coli and yeast in order to guide superior cell factory designs
The ultimate aim is to be able to automatically convert the omics “parts” lists (genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome), now routinely collected for many individuals, into accurate cellular physiomes to guide treatment and design.
The Quantitative Modelling of Cell Metabolism group is located at The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, DTU Biosustain, and is headed by Scientific Director Lars K. Nielsen and Co-PI Igor Batolomé Marín de Mas.