Temperature effects on a whole metabolic reaction cannot be inferred from its components.
Changes in temperature affect the kinetic energy of the constituents of a system at the molecular level and have pervasive effects on the physiology of the whole organism. A mechanistic link between these levels of organization has been assumed and made explicit through the use of values of organismal Q10 to infer control of metabolic rate. To be valid this postulate requires linearity and independence of the isolated reaction steps, assumptions not accepted by all. We address this controversy by applying dynamic systems theory and metabolic control analysis to a metabolic pathway model. It is shown that temperature effects on isolated steps cannot rigorously be extrapolated to higher levels of organization.
Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão tr. 14, 321, CEP: 05508-900, São Paulo/SP, Brazil. jgcb@usp.br
José Guilherme
JG
Chaui-Berlinck
Carlos Arturo
CA
Navas
Luiz Henrique Alves
LH
Monteiro
José Eduardo Pereira Wilken
JE
Bicudo
D003198:Computer Simulation; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D013598:Systems Theory; D013696:Temperature