Based on my review, I'll now provide a detailed assessment of the GO-CAM model 662af8fa00000408.
Review of GO-CAM Model: gomodel:662af8fa00000408¶
Model Overview¶
This GO-CAM model represents the ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10) metabolic process in Schizosaccharomyces pombe (fission yeast). The model focuses on the biosynthetic pathway of CoQ10, showing the activities and relationships between multiple proteins involved in this process.
Strengths of the Model¶
- Comprehensive pathway representation: The model effectively captures the main steps of the CoQ10 biosynthetic pathway in S. pombe, including:
- The initial steps of isoprenoid synthesis (Fps1, Spo9)
- Multiple steps of benzoquinone modification (Coq3, Coq5, Coq6, Coq7)
- The precursor transfer step (Ppt1)
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The final product (CoQ10) is properly specified as the output
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Appropriate cellular localization: The model correctly annotates the subcellular locations of the activities:
- Mitochondrial inner membrane and extrinsic components for most Coq proteins
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Cytosolic location for isoprenoid synthesis enzymes
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Clear causal relationships: The model uses appropriate causal relationships between activities, mostly using:
- RO:0002413 (provides input for) for sequential steps
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RO:0002629 (directly positively regulates) for the regulatory role of Azr1
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Evidence support: Activities are supported by appropriate evidence codes and references, including:
- Literature references (PMIDs)
- Appropriate ECO evidence codes
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Reference to orthologous proteins from other organisms where applicable
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Regulatory aspects: The inclusion of Azr1's protein serine/threonine phosphatase activity as a regulator of CoQ10 biosynthesis aligns with the literature.
Issues and Recommendations¶
- Duplicate causal relationships: There are several instances where the same causal relationship between two activities is represented twice. For example:
- Two identical causal relationships from Fps1 to Dlp1/Dps1
- Two identical causal relationships from Spo9 to Dlp1/Dps1
- Two identical causal relationships from Azr1 to Coq7
Recommendation: Remove duplicate causal relationships to maintain model clarity.
- Coq10 representation: The model includes Coq10 as a molecular carrier activity that takes CoQ10 as input, but there are no causal relationships linking this activity to other parts of the pathway. Based on the literature I reviewed, Coq10 is a CoQ-binding protein that facilitates the use of CoQ in the respiratory chain.
Recommendation: Either add appropriate causal relationships showing how Coq10 relates to the other activities, or include a note explaining its role in CoQ10 utilization rather than biosynthesis.
- Missing decarboxylation step: According to the literature, the CoQ10 biosynthesis pathway includes a decarboxylation step that is performed by an unknown enzyme in S. pombe. This step isn't explicitly represented in the model.
Recommendation: If possible, include this step in the pathway, even if the specific protein is unknown.
- Organization of the pathway: While the causal relationships are accurate, the flow of activities could be more clearly organized to reflect the linear progression of the pathway from isoprenoid synthesis to final CoQ10 production.
Recommendation: Reorganize the visual layout to better represent the sequential nature of the pathway.
- Consistency in annotation: Some activities have extensive evidence annotations while others have minimal evidence. For example, the evidence for Coq10's role has empty evidence fields.
Recommendation: Ensure consistent evidence annotation across all activities.
Biological Accuracy¶
Based on the literature I reviewed, the model generally represents the biological process accurately:
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The model correctly shows that S. pombe produces CoQ10 with ten isoprene units, unlike S. cerevisiae which produces CoQ6.
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The enzyme relationships match what is known about the CoQ10 biosynthetic pathway in S. pombe.
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The inclusion of Azr1 as a regulatory protein is supported by literature showing that it positively regulates the ubiquinone biosynthetic process.
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The model correctly represents that decaprenyl diphosphate synthase in S. pombe is a heterotetramer composed of Dps1 and Dlp1, unlike in S. cerevisiae where it's a homomer.
Overall Assessment¶
This is a well-constructed GO-CAM model that accurately represents the ubiquinone metabolic process in S. pombe. It captures the key proteins, their activities, and the causal relationships between them. The few issues noted are primarily related to redundant relationships and organization rather than biological accuracy.
The model will be valuable for researchers studying coenzyme Q biosynthesis in yeast and comparing it with other organisms. It successfully integrates information from multiple published studies to provide a comprehensive view of this important metabolic pathway.
I recommend accepting this model with minor revisions to address the duplicate causal relationships and to clarify the role of Coq10 in the pathway.