Erythrocyte Project

A steady state computer model of the human erythrocyte has been constructed with three major metabolic pathways, glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, nucleotide metabolism, and also ion transport systems. Simulation experiments of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency have been carried out using the model. We are currently expanding the model to include not only metabolic pathways, but also the following functions for model robustness and tolerance: pH dependence of enzymes, osmotic balance, electroneutrality, and oxygen and carbon dioxide transportation by hemoglobin. Hybrid stoichiometric and kinetic modeling mothods are being applied (Yugi. K. and Nakayama. Y. et al.). Automated tools for transforming kinetic equations into S-system and GMA forms have been developed for calculating steady-state concentration of intermediates.