Linear metabolic pathways are the simplest network architecture we find in metabolism and are a good starting point to gain insight into the operating principles of metabolic control. Linear pathways possess some well-known properties, such as a bias of flux control towards the first few steps of the pathway as well as the lack of flux control at reactions close to equilibrium. In both cases, a rationale for these behaviors is given in terms of how elasticities transmit changes through a pathway. A discussion is given on the fundamental role that two reaction step sections play in a linear pathway when transmitting changes. For a pathway with irreversible steps, the deconstruction is straight forward and includes a product of local response coefficients that cascade along the pathway. When reversibility is included, the picture became more complex but a relationship in terms of the local response coefficients if derived that includes the reverse response coefficients and highlights the interplay between the forward and backward transmission of changes during a perturbation.
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August 2020
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The transcript is populated with numerous overlapping codes that regulate all steps of gene expression. These codes cannot be readily discovered and understood without the use of computational modelling and algorithms. In this issue (see pages 1519–1528), Bahiri-Elitzur and Tuller summarize and discuss the different approaches that have been employed in the field in recent years. This cover artwork has been created by Hagar Messer and was provided by Tamir Tuller.
Review Article|
August 24 2020
A brief note on the properties of linear pathways
Herbert M. Sauro
Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98125, U.S.A.
Correspondence: Herbert M. Sauro (hsauro@uw.edu)
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
April 20 2020
Revision Received:
July 13 2020
Accepted:
July 15 2020
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society
2020
Biochem Soc Trans (2020) 48 (4): 1379–1395.
Article history
Received:
April 20 2020
Revision Received:
July 13 2020
Accepted:
July 15 2020
Citation
Herbert M. Sauro; A brief note on the properties of linear pathways. Biochem Soc Trans 28 August 2020; 48 (4): 1379–1395. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20190842
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