Reconstruction of human metabolic models with large language models

J Jiahao Luo (Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University) H Hao Wang (Division of Quantitative Sciences, Department of Oncology Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA) D Devlin Moyer (Department of Biology, Boston University) Z Zhetao Guo (Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University) J Jonathan L. Robinson (BioInnovation Institute) J Johan Gustafsson (Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard) M Mihail Anton (Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology) Y Yu Chen E Eduard J. Kerkhoven (Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology) J Jens Nielsen F Feiran Li

Abstract

Genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) have become essential tools for understanding human metabolism. Here, we introduce Human2, a consensus human GEM with enhanced precision and biological relevance, which leverages large language models (LLMs) and GitHub Action checks to streamline automated, efficient, and collaborative curation. Human2 supports the reconstruction of tissue- and organ-specific models tailored to sex- and age-specific human groups. By integrating transcriptomic, proteomic, and kinetic data, we reveal distinct metabolic features across these groups, such as significant differences in arachidonic acid and leukotriene metabolism. The specific models were integrated into a dynamic whole-body framework, marking an enzyme-constrained dynamic model that simulates interorgan metabolite exchanges under varying nutritional states, from feeding to fasting. Our work highlights the transformative role of LLMs in GEM reconstruction and introduces a whole-body dynamic simulation that integrates kinetic data, offering a powerful resource for multiscale human metabolism modeling.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 15
Published April 14, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (11)

J

Jiahao Luo

Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University

H

Hao Wang

Division of Quantitative Sciences, Department of Oncology Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA

D

Devlin Moyer

Department of Biology, Boston University

Z

Zhetao Guo

Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University

J

Jonathan L. Robinson

BioInnovation Institute

J

Johan Gustafsson

Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard

M

Mihail Anton

Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology

Y

Yu Chen

E

Eduard J. Kerkhoven

Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology

J

Jens Nielsen

F

Feiran Li