Memory improves precision of cell sensing in fluctuating environments

Aquino, Gerardo; Tweedy, Luke; Heinrich, Doris and Endres, Robert. 2014. Memory improves precision of cell sensing in fluctuating environments. Scientific Reports, 4, 5688. ISSN 2045-2322 [Article]

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Abstract or Description

Biological cells are often found to sense their chemical environment near the single-molecule detection limit. Surprisingly, this precision is higher than simple estimates of the fundamental physical limit, hinting towards active sensing strategies. In this work, we analyse the effect of cell memory, e.g. from slow biochemical processes, on the precision of sensing by cell-surface receptors. We derive analytical formulas, which show that memory significantly improves sensing in weakly fluctuating environments. However, surprisingly when memory is adjusted dynamically, the precision is always improved, even in strongly fluctuating environments. In support of this prediction we quantify the directional biases in chemotactic Dictyostelium discoideum cells in a flow chamber with alternating chemical gradients. The strong similarities between cell sensing and control engineering suggest universal problem-solving strategies of living matter.

Item Type:

Article

Identification Number (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1038/srep05688

Departments, Centres and Research Units:

Computing

Dates:

DateEvent
27 June 2014Accepted
14 July 2014Published

Item ID:

29291

Date Deposited:

30 Sep 2020 09:25

Last Modified:

03 Aug 2021 15:04

Peer Reviewed:

Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.

URI:

https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/29291

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