Research into Simple Biochemical Pathways

Objective
To simulate simple biochemical pathways in human cells and generate a standard C library for use in future projects.

Background

First we will construct a sodium-potassium pump to simulate a small mechanism. This type of mechanism is used in larger pathways, such as the Krebs Cycle and Electron-Transport Chain.

A sodium-potassium pump uses active transport, in a coupled, antiport system, to move 3-Na+ for 2-K+ ion. Transport is against the concentration gradient, hence a single ATP molecule is used as energy. The enzyme used in this process is Sodium-Potassium ATPase, and is reusable.

The Cell:
The concentration gradient of K+ is 10-20 greater inside the cell than outside, hence we will pump K+ in and Na+ out. We must also take into account a leakage of K+ and Na+ through the permiable cell membrane with a slight bias to K+. The leakage of sodium back into the cell is a secondary active transport mechanism. The sodium moves back via a carrier protein (facilitated diffusion) and normally drags other molecules along with it. -amino acids, sugars, various ions.

Source
SunOS 5.7 for Ultra-Enterprise (src & binary)