Patterns of spatiotemporal organization in an "ambiquitous" enzyme model.
Many enzymes in pathways such as glycolysis associate reversibly with cellular substructures. The spatiotemporal behavior of a "limit-cycle" oscillation model is studied under the condition that the "ambiquitous" oscillophor, phosphofructokinase, is partitioned between "bulk-phase" and "bound" forms in a heterogeneous system. Computer simulation demonstrates the occurrence of sustained, wave-like spatiotemporal patterns of chemical concentration in the bulk medium. Kinetic dissimilarity among the localized populations of bound enzyme leads to a "polarity" effect in the wave phenomenon. It is suggested that a key physiological role of the limit-cycle regime is to engender a rapid, site-to-site, signal-transmission modality in large eukaryotic (e.g., mammalian) cells.
Marmillot
P
P
Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, LA 70148.
Hervagault
J F
JF
Welch
G R
GR
D000227:Adenine Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D004058:Diffusion; D006019:Glycolysis; D008322:Mammals; D008954:Models, Biological; D010507:Periodicity; D010732:Phosphofructokinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D000227:Adenine Nucleotides; D010732:Phosphofructokinase-1