Use of implicit methods from general sensitivity theory to develop a systematic appoach to metabolic control. I: Unbranched pathways (Q1123836)

On the basis of general sensitivity theory (which studies the effects of parameter variations on the behaviour of dynamic systems) a matrix algebra is developed and used for unbranched chain structures of metabolic pathways in the steady state. For such sequential reactions (in steady state) the enzyme elasticities matrix is derived as a product of the elasticities matrix and the matrix of flux and concentration control coefficients. In the particular case of all the velocities of the system being homogeneous with respect to the system enzymes, i.e. each reaction is a linear function of the corresponding enzyme concentration, the enzyme elasticities matrix is the identity matrix and the resulting matrix equation relates global (systemic) properties (flux and concentration control coefficients) with local properties (elasticity matrix) in a simple manner insofar as each matrix is the inverse of the other. By this relation it is also shown that the theorems of the metabolic control theory (the so-called flux summation theorem, concentration connectivity th., concentration summation th., and flux connectivity th.) may not be considered as fundamental equations but rather as consequences of the theory of sensitivity which provides in this sense a generalization of the metabolic control theory.