Mathematical Physics of Metabolizing Systems with Reference to Living Cells

摘要

In previous papers we have investigated the conditions for spontaneous division of systems, which are seats of physico‐chemical reactionsof any kind.In this paper the previous general results are specialized for one particular set of reactions: oxidation of glucose and glycolysis. It is found, that whenever the two occur simultaneously, the ratio of their relative rates determines whether the system will divide spontaneously or not. Increased glycolysis favors spontaneous division. It is pointed out that the rapidly dividing cancer cells are characterized by an abnormally high rate of glycolysis.