On the relation between reactions and complexes of (bio)chemical reaction networks

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new mathematical framework that unifies flux and concentration analyses to better understand robustness in biochemical reaction networks, addressing limitations of previous methods.

Contribution

A novel unified framework combining flux and concentration perspectives to analyze robustness in biochemical systems.

Findings

Developed a comprehensive mathematical model for reaction networks.

Overcomes limitations of existing flux or concentration-focused methods.

Facilitates analysis of biologically important system properties.

Abstract

Robustness of biochemical systems has become one of the central questions in systems biology although it is notoriously difficult to formally capture its multifaceted nature. Maintenance of normal system function depends not only on the stoichiometry of the underlying interrelated components, but also on a multitude of kinetic parameters. Invariant flux ratios, obtained within flux coupling analysis, as well as invariant complex ratios, derived within chemical reaction network theory, can characterize robust properties of a system at steady state. However, the existing formalisms for the description of these invariants do not provide full characterization as they either only focus on the flux-centric or the concentration-centric view. Here we develop a novel mathematical framework which combines both views and thereby overcomes the limitations of the classical methodologies. Our unified framework will be helpful in analyzing biologically important system properties.