Field-induced instabilities in two-component systems: the cell-free glycolytic system.
The effects of weak static electric field on a cell-free glycolytic system, which is known to exhibit oscillatory behavior, have been studied using an allosteric model (due to Goldbeter and Lefever). Linear stability analysis is used to determine the change in the nature of stability and the consequent appearance of dissipative structures, due to the electric field. The results show that for this system all the necessary conditions for a field induced instability are satisfied. An order of magnitude calculation of the field strength shows that field strength in the range 10-100 V/cm is required to produce observable change in the system's behavior.
D002474:Cell-Free System; D004560:Electricity; D006019:Glycolysis; D008956:Models, Chemical