Computer Simulation of Human Erythrocyte Using the E-CELL System

We have previously reported a computer model of human erythrocyte [1], which has three major metabolic pathways: glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, and nucleotide metabolism, as well as Na+/K+ pumps, some transport systems, and magnesium complexation. The model has reached to a steady state, which is very closed to that of the real erythrocyte. In this work, we present a substantially extended version (Fig. 1) of this erythrocyte model. We added the following functions: Simulating pH dependence of enzymes, osmotic balance, electroneutrality, and oxygen and carbon dioxide transportation by hemoglobin. The current model also takes into account the hemolysis and the destructive processing of abnormal erythrocytes in the spleen.