Mathematical models of metabolic systems: general principles and control of glycolysis and membrane transport in erythrocytes.

General methods for the mathematical modeling of metabolic systems are discussed. Attention is paid to the simulation of steady states as well as time dependent behaviour of biochemical reaction networks. Control coefficients are used for the quantitative evaluation of the parameter dependence of model variables. The methods are applied to the mathematical analysis of the energy metabolism of erythrocytes. New results are presented concerning the interaction of glycolysis and osmotic behaviour of the red cell (metabolic-osmotic model). A general method for the calculation of control coefficients is developed which gives the basis also for the interpretation of control coefficients using chains of causal actions.