Fronts and pulses in an enzymatic reaction catalyzed by glucose oxidase.

Abstract

Waves and patterns in living systems are often driven by biochemical reactions with enzymes as catalysts and regulators. We present a reaction-diffusion system catalyzed by the enzyme glucose oxidase that exhibits traveling wave patterns in a spatially extended medium. Fronts and pulses propagate as a result of the coupling between the enzyme-catalyzed autocatalytic production and diffusion of hydrogen ions. A mathematical model qualitatively explains the experimental observations.