The General Mass Action GMA representation for complex reactions

The General Mass Action (GMA) representation for complex reactions 

Let s have a look at the first example in which we combine a second order reaction with a first order reaction Two receptor/ligand complexes dimerize to form a receptor/ligand dimer. This dimer then undergoes degradation. We can represent this reaction in the following way  

To analyse this reaction we can split up the coupled reaction and assume that it is composed of a first elementary reaction El  

We assume that El can be represented by a second order reaction of the t) e A + A, in which the reactants are the same (we have discussed this special case in chapter 5). 

For simplicity sake, we assume that E2 can be represented by a first order reaction. 

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