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On the Physical Basis of Biological Signaling by Interface Pulses
B Fichtl1,2, I Silman3, M F Schneider4
1Experimental Physics I , University of Augsburg , Augsburg 86159 , Germany.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|April 4, 2018
Summary
Biological sound pulses, not just molecular signals, can rapidly communicate information across cell membranes. This physical mechanism controls enzyme activity without molecular transport, offering a new signaling paradigm.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cellular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Current biological signaling models focus on molecular interactions and diffusion.
- The role of physical forces in biological communication is underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of physical mechanisms, specifically sound pulses, in biological signaling.
- To demonstrate a non-molecular signaling pathway mediated by sound waves within lipid membranes.
Main Methods:
- Investigating sound pulse propagation at lipid interfaces.
- Assessing the impact of these sound pulses on membrane-embedded enzyme activity.
- Measuring the speed of sound within the biological membrane.
Main Results:
- Lipid interfaces support the excitation and propagation of sound pulses.
- These sound pulses can modulate enzyme activity without requiring molecular transport.
- Communication occurs at the speed of sound (approx. 1 m/s) within the membrane.
Conclusions:
- Biological signaling may involve physical mechanisms like sound propagation, complementing molecular signaling.
- Sound pulses offer a rapid, non-diffusive mechanism for intercellular communication.
- This presents a novel physical framework challenging current signaling paradigms.
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