A CHEMICAL MECHANISM FOR OSCILLATION OF GLYCOLYTIC INTERMEDIATES IN YEAST CELLS

Abstract

A generalized chemical mechanism is given which provides a basis for the derivation of specific reaction mechanisms which can exhibit oscillatory behavior. The general mechanism was studied in relation to the pathways of the glycolytic system, and led to a specific reaction mechanism, consistent with the known chemistry and offering a satisfactory explanation of the observed oscillatory kinetics. The specific mechanism consists of the feed-in of a substrate through a first-order (or enzymatic reaction), a product-activated enzyme step, and an enzymatic step for removing this product. Under the stationary-state conditions, the oscillatory behavior can be sustained. It appears that all previously suggested, purely chemical oscillatory mechanisms have invoked reaction steps with stoichiometry greater than one, thus considerably restricting their applicability to experimental phenomena. The specific mechanism given here is believed to be the 1st example to require only normal stoichiometry. Its direct application to a large number of known chemical reactions is apparent.