Creative functions of instability and oscillations in metabolic systems.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the creative functions of instability and oscillations in metabolic systems. The aim of the biological regulatory mechanisms is to stabilize the important metabolic parameters in living organisms. Recognition of allosteric properties of regulatory enzymes has stimulated discussion of cell regulatory mechanisms in relation to cell homeostasis. The chapter focuses on the creative force of instability in regard to homeostasis and homogeneity as a new approach to the understanding of cellular regulation. Homeostasis in time and homogeneity in space constitute the classic frame work for a presentation of function and structure. Although exogenous fluctuations are filtered out by living systems, autonomous oscillations as well as dynamic in-homogeneity of matter could be observed in cells and multicellular bodies. It means that the organisms create their own timing and spacing, which might couple to external signals. The theoretical and experimental data reviewed allow concluding that the instability of metabolic systems may be important for the temporal and spatial organization of living matter.