Minimization of intermediate concentrations as a suggested optimality principle for biochemical networks. II: Time hierarchy, enzymatic rate laws, and erythrocyte metabolism (Q809004)

In part I of the present paper, see the preceding review, Zbl 0731.92006, the multiobjective optimality problem of simultaneously minimizing all intermediate concentrations in biochemical reaction systems was investigated. The proposed method is now applied to a model of a real biochemical system, in order to test the biochemical relevance of the proposed extremum principle. It is proved that one of the four solutions obtained corresponds qualitatively to the real erythrocyte human metabolism. Furthermore, it is shown that for any reaction system, the considered optimality principle implies a distinct time hierarchy in that some reactions are infinitely fast and subsist in quasi-equilibrium. The relationship to the standard method of deriving enzymatic rate laws is also discussed.