Metabolic control analysis of inhibitory feedback interaction: application to biotechnological processes

Based on a simplified model of a linear metabolic pathway (Kacser & Burns, 1973), and on the principles of Metabolic Control Analysis, an equation useful for predicting the maximum flux through a system after removing inhibitory feedback interaction is presented. The analysis shows that only when the flux control coefficient of the inhibited enzyme is significant (greater than 0.5) is it worthwhile to act on the regulatory features of the feedback interaction. The approach is then applied to a case study and the magnitude of the flux increase and the quality of the prediction studied in two different profiles of flux control coefficients.