Study of the flux and transition time control coefficient profiles in a metabolic system in vitro and the effect of an external stimulator.

Control of flux and transition time was investigated with a reconstructed rabbit muscle glycolytic system in vitro as an experimental model. The results show agreement with the summation property for the Flux Control Coefficients [Kacser & Burns (1973) Symp. Soc. Exp. Biol. 27, 65-104; Heinrich & Rapoport (1974) Eur. J. Biochem. 42, 89-95]. Control of flux is almost exclusively located at the hexokinase- and phosphofructokinase-catalysed steps, whereas control of transition time is distributed more evenly between the enzymes of the system. The summation value of the Transition Time Control Coefficients is near to -1, suggesting the existence of another Summation Theorem besides that already stated for Flux Control Coefficients. Finally, we study the effect of an external stimulator of the system (fructose 2,6-bisphosphate) on the Control Coefficient profiles. The effect appears to be greater on the Transition Time Control Coefficient distribution than on the Flux Control Coefficients.