Abstract

A stoichiometric model of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans based on the sequenced genome from strain ATCC 23270 is derived and parameterized using genome/ pathway databases. The model describes the main aspects of catabolism and anabolism. By the construction and utilization of the mathematical determination of the network, metabolic flux analysis is performed for such a bacterium for the first time and results are successfully verified by comparison to literature values. This first metabolic model of A. ferrooxidans is able to simulate the main aspects of metabolism and will be useful for further investigation and improvement of bioleaching procedures. ©2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.