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Breakup and then makeup: a predictive model of how cilia self-regulate hardness for posture control
Promode R Bandyopadhyay1, Joshua C Hansen
1Autonomous & Defensive Systems Department, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport, RI 02841, USA. promode.bandyopadhya@navy.mil
Scientific Reports
|June 7, 2013
Summary
Paramecium cilia break symmetry and reduce drag using off-propulsion-plane curvature. This study models cilium hardness control via ATP-dependent crossbridge dynamics during the power and return strokes.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Cilia are evolutionarily conserved organelles crucial for cellular sensing and propulsion.
- The mechanism behind paramecium cilium's off-propulsion-plane curvature during the return stroke remains unclear.
- Understanding this curvature is key to explaining symmetry breaking and drag reduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the biophysical mechanisms governing paramecium cilium deformation during its beat cycle.
- To develop a model explaining how cilia achieve off-propulsion-plane curvature for enhanced locomotion.
- To investigate the role of intra-ciliary mechanics and ATP hydrolysis in regulating cilium hardness and movement.
Main Methods:
- Development of a torsional pendulum model to analyze beat frequency dependence on viscosity.
- Application of an olivo-cerebellar model for self-regulation of posture control.
- Bio-physical modeling of cilium hardness control, incorporating ATP-dependent crossbridge dynamics.
Main Results:
- The phase dependence of cilia torsion was determined.
- A novel bio-physical model of cilium hardness control with predictive features was proposed.
- Crossbridge links between central microtubules were identified as key regulators of cilium stiffness, modulated by ATP.
Conclusions:
- Cilium deformation is regulated by a precise interplay of mechanical forces and ATP hydrolysis.
- The softening of crossbridges at maximum torsion initiates ATP hydrolysis, signaling the return stroke.
- The cilium's attractor basin offers a potential reference for perturbation sensing applications.
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