title: A computer model of pancreatic islet glycolysis.
abstract: We have modeled an experiment with perifused pancreatic islet cells using our BIOSSIM language. The experiment and the resulting model are concerned with glucose uptake and glycolysis by the beta-cells of pancreatic islets. Although glycolysis appears to be involved in insulin release, we do not have enough information to represent insulin release in detail. The rapid entry of glucose into the beta-cell is promoted by a carrier having a very high tissue capacity. Phosphorylation of glucose by the low affinity enzyme glucokinase appears to be limiting for glycolysis. The effects of several hexose diphosphate activators of phosphofructokinase are modeled. Model behavior is described. The kinetic parameters of the enzyme submodels are given. Because of the difficulties of preparing large amounts of experimental material, information on pancreatic islet metabolism is limited. This model is a plausible explanation of the experimental results. Recent work on the genetically engineered glucose transporter and glucokinase is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University of Pennsylvania, Moore School of Electrical Engineering, Philadelphia 19104.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Achs
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garfinkel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garfinkel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006019:Glycolysis / Q000502:physiology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010477:Perfusion; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose