Ocean metabolism constitutes a complex, multiscale ensemble of biochemical reaction networks harbored within and between the boundaries of a myriad of organisms. Gaining a quantitative understanding of how these networks operate requires mathematical tools capable of solving in silico the resource allocation problem each cell faces in real life. Toward this goal, stoichiometric modeling of metabolism, such as flux balance analysis, has emerged as a powerful computational tool for unraveling the intricacies of metabolic processes in microbes, microbial communities, and multicellular organisms. Here, we provide an overview of this approach and its applications, future prospects, and practical considerations in the context of marine sciences. We explore how flux balance analysis has been employed to study marine organisms, help elucidate nutrient cycling, and predict metabolic capabilities within diverse marine environments, and highlight future prospects for this field in advancing our knowledge of marine ecosystems and their sustainability.

中文翻译：

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海洋生态系统中的代谢通量建模


海洋代谢构成了一个复杂的、多尺度的生化反应网络集合，隐藏在无数生物体的边界内部和之间。要定量地了解这些网络的运作方式，需要能够用计算机模拟解决每个细胞在现实生活中面临的资源分配问题的数学工具。为了实现这一目标，代谢的化学计量模型（例如通量平衡分析）已成为一种强大的计算工具，用于揭示微生物、微生物群落和多细胞生物中代谢过程的复杂性。在这里，我们概述了这种方法及其应用、未来前景和海洋科学背景下的实际考虑。我们探讨了通量平衡分析如何用于研究海洋生物，帮助阐明营养循环，并预测不同海洋环境中的代谢能力，并强调了该领域在推进我们对海洋生态系统及其可持续性的了解方面的未来前景。