Genome-scale metabolic network reconstruction is important for understanding cellular behaviors in a systems view.
Converting the reconstruction into a mathematical model enables researchers to analyze cell behaviors in response to changing environments by using constraint-based flux balance analysis (FBA) tools, such as COBRA[1].
[1] Becker SA, Feist AM, Mo ML, Hannum G, Palsson BO, Herrgard MJ: Quantitative prediction of cellular metabolism with constraint-based models: the COBRA Toolbox. Nat Protoc 2007, 2(3):727-738.