Messenger size optimality in cellular communications

arXiv (Cornell University)

Abstract

Living cells presumably employ optimized information transfer methods, enabling efficient communication even in noisy environments. As expected, the efficiency of chemical communications between cells depends on the properties of the molecular messenger. Evidence suggests that proteins from narrow ranges of molecular masses have been naturally selected to mediate cellular communications, yet the underlying communication design principles are not understood. Using a simple physical model that considers the cost of chemical synthesis, diffusion, molecular binding, and degradation, we show that optimal mass values exist that ensure efficient communication of various types of signals. Our findings provide insights into the design principles of biological communications and can be used to engineer chemically communicating biomimetic systems.

Authors 6

1. Arash Tirandaz Aachen Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research Faculty of Science, Leiden University

   Leiden University · Bu-Ali Sina University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physical Chemistry , Faculty of Chemistry and Petroleum Sciences , Bu-Ali Sina University , Hamedan , Iran;

   Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering , Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research , Faculty of Science , Leiden University , Leiden , The Netherlands ;

2. Abolfazl Ramezanpour Aachen Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research Faculty of Science, Leiden University

   Leiden University · Shiraz University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics , College of Science , Shiraz University , Shiraz , Iran;

   Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering , Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research , Faculty of Science , Leiden University , Leiden , The Netherlands ;

3. Vivi Rottschäfer
4. Mehrad Babaei Aachen Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research Faculty of Science, Leiden University

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering , Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research , Faculty of Science , Leiden University , Leiden , The Netherlands ;

5. Andrei Y. Zinovyev

   Université Paris Sciences et Lettres

   Affiliation as printed

   EvoTec , In Silico Research and Development , Toulouse , France

   Institut Curie , INSEM U900 , PSL Research University , Paris , France;

6. Alireza Mashaghi Aachen Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research Faculty of Science, Leiden University

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Medical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering , Leiden Academic Center for Drug Research , Faculty of Science , Leiden University , Leiden , The Netherlands ;