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Create and Simulate a Simple Model

This example shows how to create and simulate a simple model of receptor-ligand kinetics using the SimBiology Desktop.

Receptor-Ligand Kinetics

In this model, ligand L and receptor R species form receptor-ligand complexes through reversible binding reactions. Using the mass action kinetics, the kinetic rate equation for the rate of change in concentration of receptor-ligand complex can be defined as $\frac{dC}{dt}={k}_{on}\cdot L\cdot R-{k}_{off}\cdot C$, where kon and koff are forward and reverse rate constants, L, R, and C are the concentrations of ligand, receptor, and receptor-ligand complex respectively. The objective of this simulation is to find the concentrations of all three species (L, R, and C) as the reaction progresses given initial amounts of species and rate constants.

Create a Model

Open the SimBiology® desktop by typing simbiology in the MATLAB® Command Window or clicking SimBiology on the Apps tab.

On the Home tab, select Add Model > Create New Blank Model. Name the model as m1 when prompted.

Select Open > Diagram to open the diagram view.

Rename the compartment to cell by double-clicking the text unnamed.

Drag and drop three species blocks and one reaction block inside the cell compartment.

Rename the species to L , R, and C as follows.

Connect the Species and Reaction Blocks

To connect the ligand species block to the reaction block, press and hold the Ctrl key (Windows® and Linux®) or the Option key (Macintosh®), click the L species block, and drag the line to reaction_1. Similarly connect R to reaction_1 and reaction_1 to C.

Update the Reaction Properties and Initial Amounts of the Reactant Species

Update the reaction_1 properties to set the reaction as a reversible reaction, select mass action as kinetic law, and define the forward and reverse rate parameters:

• Double-click the reaction_1 block to open the Reaction Properties dialog box.

• On the Settings tab, select Reversible.

• From KineticLaw drop-down list, select MassAction.

• Under Quantities Used by Reaction, enter kon as the name and 2.0E6 as the value for Forward Rate Parameter, and koff and 1E-4 for Reverse Rate Parameter.

Update the initial amounts of reactant species by entering 5E-9 and 1E-8 as R and L species values respectively. Click Close.