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The use of kinetic models to analyze differentiation
Author(s) -
Wright Barbara E.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 0005-7940
DOI - 10.1002/bs.3830150105
Subject(s) - dictyostelium discoideum , product differentiation , cellular differentiation , metabolite , biological system , flux (metallurgy) , chemistry , biochemical engineering , biology , biochemistry , mathematics , mathematical economics , organic chemistry , cournot competition , engineering , gene
Abstract A kinetic model has been constructed which describes biochemical changes underlying differentiation in a simple microbial system, Dictyostelium discoideum . The computer model is based upon, and consistent with, observed variations in a) the concentration of specific precursors and end products of differentiation and, b) reaction rates determined in vivo The model offers an analytical technique for the evaluation of data with respect to their relevence to the physiological mechanisms responsible for the accumulation of the end products of differentiation. For example, analysis of this model and related theoretical studies emphasize that, under the steady‐state conditions of the living cell, and over the time periods normally involved in differentiation processes, changes in the levels of some essential enzymes are not significant with respect to controlling the metabolite flux necessary to the accumulation of specialized end products.