Computational multiple steady states in enzymatically catalyzed oxidation of monophenols by tyrosinase in an isothermal CFSTR

A family of an enzymatically catalyzed reaction network, involving oxidation of monophenols by tyrosinase in an isothermal continuous-flow stirred tank reactor (CFSTR), is studied. This system consists of 10 coupled non-linear equations and is determined to have the capacity to exhibit computational multiple steady states by implementation of the Deficiency One Algorithm and the Subnetwork Analysis. A set of rate constants and two corresponding steady states are computed. The phenomena of bistability, hysteresis and bifurcation are discussed. A signature of multiplicity is derived, which can be applied to mechanism identifications if steady-state concentrations for some species are measured. The capacity of steady-state multiplicity is extended to its family of reaction networks. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.