CONTROL MECHANISM OF GLYCOLYTIC OSCILLATIONS

Publisher Summary Glycolytic self-excitation is produced by the allosteric oscillophor phosphofructokinase and propagated with a dependent phase shift by means of the coupling variable adenosine phosphates via the kinases, phosphoglycerate kinase and pyruvate kinase. The basis of a general mechanism of glycolytic oscillation is the establishment of a metabolite and energy balance of the pathway. Titration experiments with the oscillating system, as well as with isolated enzyme preparations, prove that the adenosine phosphate control variable is operating via the kinases of the glycolytic pathway. Glycolysis is controlled at any time by the adenosine phosphate variable. The variable is a function of the velocities of all adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-generating and ATP-splitting reactions and of the adenosine phosphate pool. Any experimental change of the ATP-splitting activities or adenosine phosphate pool influences the phase angle between the oscillophor and secondary oscillations of the other glycolytic intermediates. This has been tested under a great variety of conditions in the laboratory.