Strong control on the transit time in metabolic channelling

FEBS Lett. 1996 Jul 1;389(2):123-5. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(96)00532-7.

Abstract

A suite of different characteristic times is used to describe the temporal behavior of a metabolic pathway. Here we focus on the 'transit' time, that is the average time it takes for a molecule, entering the steady-state pathway as a substrate, to exit the pathway as a product. We show that metabolic channelling results in dramatic changes in control exerted by pathway enzymes on the transit time. In an 'ideal' pathway a doubling of the enzyme concentrations halves the transit time. In a dynamic channel such an increase can reduce the transit time by a factor of four or more.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Kinetics
  • Metabolism*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Enzymes