A mathematical model for fibroblast growth factor competition based on enzyme kinetics.

In this paper, we develop a mathematical model for the competition of two species of fibroblast growth factor, FGF-1 and FGF-2, for the same cell surface receptor. We provide pathways for this interaction using experimental data obtained by Neufeld and Gospodarowicz reported in 1986 [9]. These pathways demonstrate how the interaction of two fibroblast growth factors affects cell proliferation. Upon development of these pathways, we use simulations in MATLAB and optimization to extrapolate the values of a variety of biochemical parameters imbedded within the model. Furthermore, it should be possible to use the model as the basis for a testable hypothesis. We explore this predictive ability with further simulations in MATLAB.