Methods and Systems to Identify Operational Reaction Pathways

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for identifying an operational reaction pathway of a biosystem. The method includes (a) providing a set of systemic reaction pathways through a reaction network representing said biosystem; (b) providing a set of phenomenological reaction pathways of said biosystem, and (c) comparing said set of systemic reaction pathways with said set of phenomenological reaction pathways, wherein a pathway common to said sets is an operational reaction pathway of said biosystem. Also described is a method of refining a biosystem reaction network; a method of reconciling biosystem data sets; a method of determining the effect of a genetic polymorphism on whole cell function; and a method of diagnosing a genetic polymorphism-mediated pathology.

1 . A method of diagnosing a genetic polymorphism-mediated pathology, comprising:
 (a) applying a biochemical or physiological condition stressing a physiological state of a reaction network representing a biosystem with a genetic polymorphism-mediated pathology, said applied biochemical or physiological condition correlating with said genetic polymorphism-mediated pathology; and   (b) measuring one or more biochemical or physiological indicators of said pathology within said reaction network, wherein a change in said one or more biochemical or physiological indicators in said stressed state compared to an unstressed physiological state indicates the presence of a genetic polymorphism corresponding to said pathology.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biochemical or physiological condition is selected from a change in flux load, pH, reactants, and products. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biochemical or physiological condition comprises an oxidative load or an energy load.