Introduction to Metabolic Control Analysis (MCA)

Metabolic Control Analysis (MCA) provides a conceptual framework for understanding the control of fluxes though metabolic pathways at the molecular level. It further provides a theoretical underpinning for an experimental approach to determining metabolic control. In this chapter, the basic principles of MCA are introduced, and the kinds of applications that are accessible to this approach. The relationship to flux analysis and measurement of metabolic fluxes is outlined.