Chemical Reaction Kinetics: Mathematical Underpinnings

Abstract

Mathematical modeling and simulation ofbiochemical reaction networks facilitates our understand- ing ofmetabolic and signaling processes. For closed, well-mixed reaction systems, it is straightfor- ward to derive kinetic equations that govern the concentrations of the reactants and products. The usual way ofderiving kinetic equations involves application ofthe principle ofconservation ofmass in conjunction with the law of mass action. Here, examples of kinetic models for several basic processes are discussed.