Stoichiometric network analysis of entropy production in chemical reactions

The biological application of stoichiometric network analysis (SNA) permits an understanding of tumour induction, carcinogenesis, and chemotherapy. Starting from the Biological System of the Elements, which provides a comprehensive treatment of the functions and distributions of chemical (trace) elements in biology, an attempt is made to interrelate the essential feature of biology and — regrettably — of tumour genesis by superimposing SNA reasoning on common features of all crucial biological processes. For this purpose, aspects, effects and drawbacks of autocatalysis (identical reproduction which can occur either under control or without control [in tumours]) are linked with the known facts about element distributions in living beings and about interference of metals with tumours (in terms of both chemotherapy and carcinogenesis). The essential role of autocatalysis in biology and the drawbacks of either controlled or spontaneous cell division can be used to understand crucial aspects of carcinogenesis and chemotherapy because SNA describes and predicts effects of autocatalysis, including phase effects that may be due to some kind of intervention. The SNA-based classifications of autocatalytic networks in cell biology are outlined here to identify new approaches to chemotherapy.

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Stoichiometric Network Analysis of Cyanobacterial Acclimation to Photosynthesis-Associated Stresses Identifies Heterotrophic Niches

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr5020032 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 32 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Ashley Beck ◽

Hans Bernstein ◽

Ross Carlson

Keyword(s):

Network Analysis ◽

Stoichiometric Network Analysis

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Entropic Analysis of Mirror Symmetry Breaking in Chiral Hypercycles

Life ◽

10.3390/life9010028 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 28 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

David Hochberg ◽

Josep Ribó

Keyword(s):

Symmetry Breaking ◽

Entropy Production ◽

Mirror Symmetry ◽

Flow Reactor ◽

Evolutionary Selection ◽

Replicator System ◽

Stoichiometric Network Analysis ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

The Individual ◽

Origin Of Homochirality

Replicators are fundamental to the origin of life and evolvability. Biology exhibits homochirality: only one of two enantiomers is used in proteins and nucleic acids. Thermodynamic studies of chemical replicators able to lead to homochirality shed valuable light on the origin of homochirality and life in conformity with the underlying mechanisms and constraints. In line with this framework, enantioselective hypercyclic replicators may lead to spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking (SMSB) without the need for additional heterochiral inhibition reactions, which can be an obstacle for the emergence of evolutionary selection properties. We analyze the entropy production of a two-replicator system subject to homochiral cross-catalysis which can undergo SMSB in an open-flow reactor. The entropy exchange with the environment is provided by the input and output matter flows, and is essential for balancing the entropy production at the non-equilibrium stationary states. The partial entropy contributions, associated with the individual elementary flux modes, as defined by stoichiometric network analysis (SNA), describe how the system’s internal currents evolve, maintaining the balance between entropy production and exchange, while minimizing the entropy production after the symmetry breaking transition. We validate the General Evolution Criterion, stating that the change in the chemical affinities proceeds in a way as to lower the value of the entropy production.

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