Abstract: The microbial metabolic network is one of important fields of systems biology. The metabolic network flow analysis method has great significance in studying metabolic network properties. Metabolic network flow analysis method is a key to understand the relationship between metabolic network structure and function, metabolic flow and gene expression. It has an important realistic significance in analyzing disease, identify target for drugs, pharmaceutical engineering and genetic modification. Several kinds of metabolic network flow analysis methods were reviewed in the paper in order to supply a reference for analyzing metabolic flux and thus guiding the experiments researches as well. They are flux balance analysis(FBA), minimization of metabolic adjustment(MOMA), regulatory on off minimization(ROOM), dynamic flux balance analysis with linear quadratic regulator(DFBA-LQR), the analysis of flow range(FVA), a bi-level programming framework for identifying gene knockout strategies(OptKnoock), up/down regulations of gene expression(OptReg) and the framework for redesign of production systems(OptStrain). 

Key words: metabolic network, system biology, flux analysis methods