Evaluating an Explicit Flow Model for the Protein Routing Question

EVALUATING AN EXPLICIT FLOW MODEL FOR THE PROTEIN ROUTING QUESTION 

Consider the flow model shown in Fig. 11.1, in which the diet has two components (protein and non-protein), and the excretion has one (CO2). The 

If the total carbon flux through the system in steady state is = 1 unit (e.g., so many grams C per day), then the protein input (dietary) flux is called F, and the non-protein input is therefore (1 - F). The model has one internal 

If all the relevant fluxes are in steady state, we can write equations for each flux and solve for the system as a whole, thereby relating the composition of the collagen to the composition of the diet, to F and to X. Assume, as a first approach, no isotopic fractionation takes place within the organism. We find  

That is, as noted above, the bioapatite carbonate tracks the total diet. 

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