Dynamical Mechanisms of Glycolytic Oscillations in Ventricular Myocytes

Previous studies have shown that glycolysis can oscillate periodically, driven by positive feedback loops in regulation of key glycolytic enzymes by free ADP and other metabolites. The experimental observations isolated rabbit ventricular myocytes revealed that when the capacity of oxidative phosphorylation and the creatine kinase system to buffer the cellular ATP/ADP ratio is suppressed, glycolysis can cause periodic oscillations in cellular ATP levels. Here we theoretically analyze the underlying dynamical mechanisms of these oscillations, and explained the experimental results under varying conditions. Our findings suggest that: 1) the positive feedback does promote the oscillations via Hopf bifurcations; 2) the ATP level is the core factor in generating glycolytic oscillations.