Nonlinear dynamics of biomimetic enzyme systems

Enzymes are the specific catalysts of almost any physiological reaction. Studies on the simplest types of enzymes and enzyme model systems show that such minimal systems are able to show nonlinear dynamic behaviour. Their dynamics (as well as their bifurcation between different states) is investigated under homogeneous conditions. In these cases, it can be shown that the source of the nonlinearities lies in the kinetics of the reactions underlying the enzyme system. Oscillatory dynamics are not a mere side effect of the kinetics, but are also used to exert biological functions. Last, but not least, a series of experiments shows that nonlinear dynamics is also possible in enzyme model systems where the enzyme is bound to a membrane, such that transport processes may play an important role in inducing dynamic behaviours.