KINETICS ON THE MICROBIAL SCALE
51
ASSUME (I0) , PYRUVATE , IS A FIXED INPUT PARAMETER
EQUATIONS |
UNKNOWN |
intermediates , ETC. |
Г ≡ 5Γ I |
Ii |
9 |
r = f,(I0)(On)- b1 (I0)(Rn) |
r |
I |
r * f2(I, )(I9)- ⅛(12)
r≡ VI0W- ⅛(I9)(Rn) |
9 | |
IO |
IO | |
FROM ELECTRON TRANSP. |
12 |
13 |
GRAND TOTAL |
22 EQ1NS |
23 UNKNOWNS |
fig.7-Determinacy in the krebs cycle and in
IN THE ENTIRE REACTION SYSTEM
Presumably there is an enzyme factory which can synthesize I8 at
arbitrarily small rate r√ I8 is also lost by diffusion from the system at
rate MI8, where M is a small mass transfer coefficient. The steady state
value for l8, rs∕M, is the ratio of two small numbers, and can presumably
be whatever the cell desires. The important fact is that the overall rate
FIG. 8- MODIFIED KREBS
CYCLE (SIMPLIFIED)
r is directly proportional to rs∕M in the steady state.
Since normally M would be fixed by cell morphology, the overall rate
of ATP formation can be controlled by the cell merely by changing the
small rate rs. This is the principle of the power amplifier and is charac-
teristic of cyclic reaction paths. It will be the subject of a demonstration
in the next paper.