Simulations of oscillatory glycolytic patterns in cells

Using the mean-field reaction-diffusion equations and Monte Carlo (MC) tech nique, we simulate oscillatory glycolytic kinetics in 3D spherical or 2D ci rcular cells. The model employed takes into account the glucose supply to t he cell via the cell membrane and a few elementary reaction steps running i nside the cell. The model parameters are chosen so that the typical size of oscillatory patterns is comparable with the cell size. In the mean-field a pproximation, the oscillations are periodic and may occur with large amplit ude. In contrast, the MC kinetics are appreciably irregular and the amplitu de of oscillations is smaller in the latter case. Both these effects are co nnected with deviation of the metabolite distribution in the cell from the symmetrical one due to fluctuations. The spatiotemporal patterns obtained i n our MC simulations are qualitatively similar to those observed recently i n neutrophils.