Thermodynamic Optimality of Glycolytic Oscillations

Temporal order in living matters reflects the self-organizing nature of dynamical processes driven out thermodynamic equilibrium. Because functional reasons, period a biochemical oscillation must be tuned to specific value with precision; however, according uncertainty relation (TUR), precision oscillatory is constrained by cost generating it. After reviewing basics chemical oscillations using Brusselator as model system, we study glycolytic generated octameric phosphofructokinase (PFK), which known display several minutes. By exploring phase space oscillations, find that under cellular condition realized cost-effective manner. Specifically, over biologically relevant range parameter values glycolysis and PFK, entropy production from minimal when (5–10) min. Furthermore, found at work near boundary limit cycles, suggesting moderate increase glucose injection rate leads loss dynamics, reminiscent pulsatile insulin release resulting elevated blood level.