Citation
Metabolites: a helping hand for pathway evolution?
TL;DR
Metabolic pathways function as modules with defined inputs and outputs
This paper examines modularity in metabolic pathways and reveals important limitations - shared metabolites create interdependencies that complicate the module abstraction. Pathway boundaries are somewhat arbitrary because metabolites participate in multiple pathways.
This supports the chapter's argument that modularity is never perfect and that real systems exhibit integration alongside decomposition. Organizations similarly find that pure modular boundaries are idealized - shared resources, customers, and capabilities create interdependencies that must be managed.
Key Findings from Schmidt et al. (2003)
- Metabolic pathways function as modules with defined inputs and outputs
- Shared metabolites create interdependencies between pathways
- Optimization of individual pathways doesn't guarantee system-level optimization
- Pathway boundaries are analytical constructs, not absolute divisions