Abstract
A mathematical representation for the analysis of control mechanisms in biochemical reactions is presented. First, the theoretical concept of concentration in biological systems is developed. Then a system consisting of two functions λ and τ is constructed as a network of single output automata. The range of λ is taken to be formed by a set of twostates qualitatively different from the “repair function” Φ f of a mappingf: A→B in the stimulated Φ1 and unstimulated state Φ0. Likewise, the range of τ is formed by the set δ={f o,f 1} wheref 1 means the mappingf in its stimulated state andf o in the unstimulated one. It is demonstrated that the mathematical structure described acts as a control mechanism over thef and Φ f , so that two biochemical components,A→B, are transformed at a controlled rate. Some of the biological applications of this model are briefly examined. The Jacob-Monod model, the enzymatic adaptation phenomenon, and the “rheon unit” hypothesis are discussed within our framework. Eventually, a concrete model for the RNA-polymerase mechanism, based on the above discussion, is presented.
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Comorosan, S., Platica, O. A theoretical model for the control mechanisms in biochemical reactions. Bulletin of Mathematical Biophysics 30, 123–133 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02476944
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02476944