Simulating feedback and reversibility in substrate-enzyme reactions

Abstract

We extend discrete event models (DEM) of substrate-enzyme reactions to include regulatory feedback and reversible reactions. Steady state as well as transient systems are modeled and validated against ordinary differential equation (ODE) models. The approach is exemplified in a model of the first steps of glycolysis with the most common regulatory mechanisms. We find that in glycolysis, feedback and reversibility together act as a significant damper on the stochastic variations of the intermediate products as well as for the stochastic variation of the transit times. This suggests that these feedbacks have evolved to control both the overall rate of, as well as stochastic fluctuations in, glycolysis. © 2011 EDP Sciences, SIF, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.