Figure 1.

A simplified overview of the metabolic network implemented by a hypothetical minimal genome of 208 protein-coding genes derived by an integrated approach (modified from Gil et al. 2004). Names of substrates freely available for the hypothetical minimal cell are represented inside a frame. Two sink metabolites are labelled in grey. Coenzyme metabolism (except the folate metabolism linked to TTP biosynthesis) is shown in the inset and was not considered in the stoichiometric analysis. Wider arrows in the glycolytic pathway indicate the two steps where ATP is synthesized by substrate-level phosphorylation.