title: Limit-cycle oscillations and chaos in reaction networks subject to conservation of mass.
abstract: A cyclic network of autocatalytic reactions involving an unbuffered cofactor and a number of components subject to conservation of mass displays a surprising richness of dynamical behaviors. Limit-cycle oscillations are possible over a wide range of parameter values. Additionally, a cascade of period-doubling bifurcations leading to chaos can coexist with a multiplicity of stable steady states. These results draw attention to the role of unbuffering as a feedback in biochemical systems.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Cera
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Phillipson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wyman
mesh_terms: D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D008433:Mathematics; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013816:Thermodynamics