Spatiotemporal behaviors in immobilized enzyme systems

The immobilization of enzymes within an artificial membrane, with a homogeneous distribution of the active sites, allows a simple modelling in a well defined context. The systems are described by non-linear PDE'S, taking into account enzyme reaction and metabolite diffusion. These equations can exhibit several types of behaviors, qualitatively different from those observed in solution, such as hysteresis, oscillations and pattern formations. Preliminary experimental results have shown the existence of sustained oscillations and instabilities with immobilized acetylcholinesterase and phosphofructokinase.