A GENERAL FORMALISM FOR METABOLIC CONTROL ANALYSIS

A general formalism for Metabolic Control Analysis is derived using ge neral sensitivity analysis and structural information of the metabolic pathway inherent in the stoichiometry matrix. The equations derived p rovide a general procedure for calculating the control coefficients fr om the elasticity coefficients using matrix algebra, and is valid for any pathway stoichiometry. The procedure diminishes the risk of derivi ng erroneous relations and is, due to its generality, well suited for computer handling. The formalism is mathematically stringent and is a complement to the original theorems of Metabolic Control Analysis, whi ch were derived using ad hoc reasoning. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.