METAMOD: software for steady-state modelling and control analysis of metabolic pathways on the BBC microcomputer

METAMOD, a BBC microcomputer-based software package for steady-statemodelling and control analysis of model metabolic pathways,is described, The package consists of two programs. METADEFallows the user to define the pathway in terms of reactions,rate equations and initial concentrations of metabolites. METACALuses one of two algorithms to calculate the steady-state concentrationsand fluxes. One algorithm uses the current ratio of productionand consumption rates of variable metabolites to adjust iterativelytheir concentrations in such a way that they converge towardsthe steady state. The other algorithm solves the roots of thesystem equations by means of a quasi-Newtonian procedure. Controlanalysis allows the calculation of elasticity, control and responsecoefficients, by means of finite difference approximation. METAMODis interactive and easy to use, and suitable for teaching andresearch purposes. Received on January 17, 1986; accepted on June 2, 1986