A possible role of adenylate metabolism in human erythrocytes: Simple mathematical model

A simplified mathematical model of cell metabolism describing ion pump, glycolysis and adenylate metabolism was developed and investigated in order to clarify the functional role of the adenylate metabolism system in human erythrocytes. The adenylate metabolism system was shown to be able to function as a specific regulatory system stabilizing intracellular ion concentration and, hence, erythrocyte volume under changes in the permeability of cell membrane. This stabilization is provided via an increase in adenylate pool in association with ATPases rate elevation. Proper regulation of adenylate pool size might be achieved even in the case when AMP synthesis rate remains constant and only AMP degradation rate varies. The best stabilization of intracellular ion concentration in the model is attained when the rate of AMP destruction is directly proportional to ATP concentration and is inversely proportional to AMP concentration. An optimal rate of adenylate metabolism in erythrocytes ranges from several tenths of a percent to several percent of the glycolytic flux. An increase in this rate results in deterioration of cell metabolism stability. Decrease in the rate of adenylate metabolism makes the functioning of this metabolic system inefficient, because the time necessary to achieve stabilization of intracellular ion concentration becomes comparable with erythrocyte life span. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited.