title: The biomass objective function.
abstract: Flux balance analysis (FBA) is a mathematical approach for analyzing the flow of metabolites through a metabolic network. To computationally predict cell growth using FBA, one has to determine the biomass objective function that describes the rate at which all of the biomass precursors are made in the correct proportions. Here we review fundamental issues associated with its formulation and use to compute optimal growth states.
authors.affiliation: GT Life Sciences, Inc., 10520 Wateridge Circle, San Diego, CA 92122, USA.
authors.forename: Adam M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Feist
authors.forename: Bernhard O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Palsson
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D048708:Cell Growth Processes; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000378:metabolism*; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D055442:Metabolome; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D049490:Systems Biology