Genome-Scale Metabolic Modeling Combined with Transcriptome Profiling Provides Mechanistic Understanding of Streptococcus thermophilus CH8 Metabolism
Martin Holm Rau, Paula Gaspar, Maiken Lund Jensen, Asger Geppel, Ana Rute Neves, Ahmad A. Zeidan
Abstract
Streptococcus thermophilus is one the main organisms involved in the fermentation of milk and, increasingly, also in the fermentation of plant-based foods. The construction of a functional high-quality genome-scale metabolic model, in conjunction with in-depth transcriptome profiling with a focus on metabolism, provides a valuable resource for the improved understanding of S. thermophilus physiology. An example is the model-based prediction of the most significant route of synthesis for the characteristic yogurt flavor compound acetaldehyde and identification of metabolic principles governing the synthesis of other flavor compounds. Moreover, the systematic assessment of amino acid supply and demand during growth in milk provides insights into the key challenges related to nitrogen metabolism that is imposed on S. thermophilus and any other organism associated with the milk niche.