Approximate steady-state properties of lattices of interacting three-state enzyme molecules: a novel phase transition

Previous work on the cooperative behavior of lattices of interacting two-state enzyme molecules at steady state is extended here to interacting three-state enzyme molecules with a one-way cycle. The Bragg-Williams (mean field) approximation is used. A phase-transition example with a bifurcation point is discussed. Compared to conventional phase transitions (with a van der Waals loop), several new and complicated features appear. A second paper on this subject will contain a number of other examples of three-state systems.