On phenomenological mechanochemical muscle models – I

Abstract

Two kinetic models of the calcium-ATP-actomyosin interaction in muscle tissue are developed. The assumptions made in this work are based firmly on the experimental data available in the literature. Using these models, the rate equations for hydrolysis and formation of activated actomyosin complex are found. An important result is that rate of change of concentrations for all species in this complex set of biochemical reactions can be expressed in terms of two species rate equations. The remaining concentrations are related to these through equilibrium and species continuity (mass conservation) relations. In Part II, these models are used to develop general thermodynamic constitutive models for striated muscle.