Asymptotic Observers a tool to estimate metabolite concentrations under transient state conditions in biological systems: Determination of intermediate metabolites in the pentose phosphate pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

An Asymptotic Observer (AO) is proposed to analyze and to study biochemical transient-state systems. In agreement with a rigorous conservation analysis, the AO is able to estimate unmeasured internal metabolite concentrations without knowledge of the kinetic model and the initial condition of the state variables of the metabolic network. The AO methodology is applied in the pentose phosphate pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Results demonstrated good accuracy and stability properties of AO for rebuilding the unknown metabolic information under transient conditions of biochemical networks. According to its features, AO could become a useful tool to better understand biochemical systems in dynamic state.