Metabolic control analysis by computer: progress and prospects.

In metabolic control analysis, the set of rules called the matrix method simplifies writing the matrix equation that relates the control coefficients to elasticities of enzymes, and a subset of the velocities and substrate concentrations in a metabolic system. However, since the process of writing and solving these equations can be clearly defined, a computer program is being produced that will write the equations for the control coefficients given only the reactions of the metabolic system. In this way, the results of metabolic control analysis can be made available to all those who can use them, even if they do not know the theory in detail. The computational strategies underlying such a program, and the similarities to a biochemical simulation program developed previously are described.