Dear Michael
You wrote
> 5. Which method you choose to use depends on what information is
> available and what question you are asking. If you only have
> steady-state or time-course concentration data, then you probably will use
> BSA. MCA requires detailed kinetic information to identify the true rate
> laws and the numerical values of the kinetic parameters. If you just wish
> to estimate error envelopes for a simulation, any method of sensitivity
> analysis will do. The more realistic the mathematical representation, the
> deeper is the possible molecular-level insight.
and Henrik promptly turns in his grave. The whole idea of MCA is that it needs
**no** local kinetic information for its application, only the ability to manipulate
parameters and measure steady-state variable such as fluxes and
intermediate concentrations. With co-response analysis this ideal became
reality (also to a more limited extent with the top-down approach). One should
distinguish the experimental use of MCA from numerical simulation where
control coefficients can also be calculated. For numerical simulation the
question becomes one of using power laws (a la BST) versus true rate laws
where detailed kinetic information is needed.
Best regards
Jannie
Prof. Jannie Hofmeyr Tel: +27 21 808 3039
Dept. of Biochemistry Fax: +27 21 808 3022
University of Stellenbosch e-mail: jhsh at maties.sun.ac.za
Private Bag X1
Matieland 7602
Stellenbosch
South Africa
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