Integration of Metabolism and Signaling

integration

The aim of this project is the development of mathematical models integrating metabolic and signaling pathways.

From our VLN partner groups, we require the following experimental and theoretical input:

  • Sub-models (Boolean or kinetic) of signaling pathways in hepatocytes
  • Protein level and phosphorylation status of key protein kinases and phosphatases involved in the signaling pathways of insuline, HGF, TGF-ß, Wnt
  • Measured metabolite concentrations and metabolic flux rates at various external hormonal stimuli
  • Gene expression profiling of metabolic enzymes at various external hormonal stimuli

Method:

  • Development of hybrid models (kinetic model and/or FBA model of metabolic part/discrete state model of regulatory part)

Milestones:

  • Development and testing of methods to combine FBA models of metabolic pathways and Boolean models of signaling pathways
  • Including knowledge (data, Boolean models) on signaling pathways of insulin, glucagon, TGFß and HGF into integrative model of hepatocyte

This project is part of Virtual Liver, a major national initiative funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) and is connected to WP subprojects A3.1, E1, and E4.

Researchers

Prof. Hermann-Georg Holzhütter
Sascha Bullik
(Christian Bölling)