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Figure 1 | Genome Biology

Figure 1

From: Computational identification of obligatorily autocatalytic replicators embedded in metabolic networks

Figure 1

Various metabolic organizations. (a) A protocell showing an indispensable autocatalytic metabolite. (b) A richer medium is able to kick-start metabolism because A can be formed from Z. (c) The set of autocatalytic molecules is composed of A and B, a pair of cross-catalytic molecules (that is, A is required to kick-start the biosynthetic route to B, and B is required to kick-start the biosynthetic route to A). Although the excess molecules are produced in a mirror fashion, it is easy to identify the autocatalytic compounds. (d) If reactions involving A and B are embedded in a large network, it may not be easy to identify the autocatalytic compounds: note that the excess A is produced remote from where it was consumed in the first place. Symmetrically, the same holds for B. Inner metabolite A, food X and Z, waste Y and W.

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