We investigate the role of backward reactions in a stochastic model of catalytic reaction network, with specific regard to the influence on the emergence of autocatalytic sets (ACSs), which are supposed to be one of the pre-requisites in the transition between non-living to living matter. In particular, we analyse the impact that a variation in the kinetic rates of forward and backward reactions may have on the overall dynamics. Significant effects are indeed observed, provided that the intensity of backward reactions is sufficiently high. In spite of an invariant activity of the system in terms of production of new species, as backward reactions are intensified, the emergence of ACSs becomes more likely and an increase in their number, as well as in the proportion of species belonging to them, is observed. Furthermore, ACSs appear to be more robust to fluctuations than in the usual settings with no backward reaction. This outcome may rely not only on the higher average connectivity of the reaction graph, but also on the distinguishing property of backward reactions of recreating the substrates of the corresponding forward reactions.

Filisetti, A., Graudenzi, A., Damiani, C., Villani, M., Serra, R. (2013). The role of backward reactions in a stochastic model of catalytic reaction networks. In Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on the Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems: Advances in Artificial Life, ECAL 2013 (pp.793-801). MIT Press Journals [10.7551/978-0-262-31709-2-ch114].

The role of backward reactions in a stochastic model of catalytic reaction networks

Graudenzi, A;Damiani, C;
2013

Abstract

We investigate the role of backward reactions in a stochastic model of catalytic reaction network, with specific regard to the influence on the emergence of autocatalytic sets (ACSs), which are supposed to be one of the pre-requisites in the transition between non-living to living matter. In particular, we analyse the impact that a variation in the kinetic rates of forward and backward reactions may have on the overall dynamics. Significant effects are indeed observed, provided that the intensity of backward reactions is sufficiently high. In spite of an invariant activity of the system in terms of production of new species, as backward reactions are intensified, the emergence of ACSs becomes more likely and an increase in their number, as well as in the proportion of species belonging to them, is observed. Furthermore, ACSs appear to be more robust to fluctuations than in the usual settings with no backward reaction. This outcome may rely not only on the higher average connectivity of the reaction graph, but also on the distinguishing property of backward reactions of recreating the substrates of the corresponding forward reactions.
paper
catalytic reaction networks; stochastic models
English
12th European Conference on the Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems: Advances in Artificial Life, ECAL 2013
2013
Liò, P.; Miglino, O.; Nicosia, G.; Nolfi, S.; Pavone, M
Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on the Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems: Advances in Artificial Life, ECAL 2013
9780262317092
2013
793
801
none
Filisetti, A., Graudenzi, A., Damiani, C., Villani, M., Serra, R. (2013). The role of backward reactions in a stochastic model of catalytic reaction networks. In Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on the Synthesis and Simulation of Living Systems: Advances in Artificial Life, ECAL 2013 (pp.793-801). MIT Press Journals [10.7551/978-0-262-31709-2-ch114].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/60762
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