Living systems stay far from equilibrium by constantly using energy from their surroundings. In the cell cortex, this energy creates various chemical and mechanical patterns, affecting how cells look and behave. However, how cells decide to use their internal energy for these activities is not well understood.
This groundbreaking research, a collaborative effort by scientists at the Yale Systems Biology Institute, has uncovered the thermodynamic principles that underpin energy use in our cells, a discovery that significantly advances our understanding of cell energy dynamics.
For the first time, researchers have measured how energy forms different wave patterns in the cell’s outer membrane and its internal structure, known as the cytoskeleton. Before cells divide, they create two distinct protein wave patterns: one that pulses like a heartbeat and another that appears as chaotic spirals.
Sheng Chen, a postdoctoral fellow and lead author, measured the energy consumption of mechanical and chemical waves in various cells to understand how energy is used and distributed in different wave patterns in cells. Contrary to initial expectations, they discovered that energy is organized rather than chaotic. Cells achieve an optimal state where both wave types work together efficiently, maximizing energy for cell functions.
This newfound understanding of how energy is managed within cells not only enhances our grasp of the physical principles behind cell energy dynamics but also holds promise for improving our ability to predict and control disease spread. The Yale team’s future work, using mathematical modeling and machine learning, is poised to further our understanding of how different wave patterns affect cell functions.
Journal Reference:
- Chen, S., Seara, D.S., Michaud, A. et al. Energy partitioning in the cell cortex. Nat. Phys. (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-024-02626-6
