Modelling of biochemical reaction networks

Abstract

This report investigates signalling in reaction kinetic networks. The main topic is signalling between a substance being controlled by another substance and how this can be related to control theory.

Different types of so-called natural controllers are compared and certain properties are investigated. Natural controllers are models on how a catalyst enzyme controls, for example the concentration, of a substance. There are sixteen different combinations of signalling between these substances, however it is focused on the eight different controllers with negative feedback.

These building blocks have been shown to be accurate models of several systems in nature including, but not limited to, blood glucose, calcium uptake in the human body and nitrate concentrations in plants.

Among the properties that are investigated is pulsation, oscillation and the addition of dynamical variables. This project is a supplement to the research of Peter Ruoff, Tormod Drengstig and others at the University of Stavanger.