Extension of Metabolic Control Theory to dynamic calcium handling in cardiac ventricular myocytes

Metabolic Control Theory (MCT) has been thoroughly developed for the analysis of enzymatic reactions. MCT has also been applied to non-enzymatic systems such as chemostats and electron transport chains. Due to the analogous expressions for calcium transport and enzyme kinetics we propose that MCT is applicable to calcium handling in cardiac myocytes. This theory is further substantiated by Kacser and Burns' statement that MCT is applicable to systems of any complexity or kinetics. This proposition is investigated through comparison of computer calculated control coefficients with control coefficients determined experimentally. The use of the summation theorems for analysis validation, to ensure that all controlling parameters have been accounted for, is investigated. We report the success of these investigations qualitatively and quantitatively.