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Nontrivial amplification below the threshold for excitable cell signaling
Emma Iverson1, Minjing Yang1, Hongyong Zhang1
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Colby College, Waterville, Maine 04901.
Small fluctuations in excitable cell signaling systems can be dramatically amplified, similar to fluid systems. This phenomenon, driven by feedback and system dynamics, enhances fluctuation variance beyond theoretical minimums.
Area of Science:
- Mathematical Biology
- Fluid Dynamics
- Cell Signaling
Background:
- Asymptotically stable fluid systems exhibit fluctuation amplification.
- Linear stability theory underestimates fluctuation variance.
- Excitable cell signaling systems are complex dynamic systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate fluctuation amplification in excitable cell signaling systems.
- To identify mechanisms driving nontrivial fluctuations in these systems.
- To connect findings with broader classes of dynamic systems.
Main Methods:
- Utilized quantitative models from mathematical biology.
- Analyzed systems with positive and negative feedback.
- Examined the role of bifurcations and timescale separation.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated dramatic amplification of small fluctuations in excitable cell signaling.
- Identified feedback, bifurcations, and timescale separation as key drivers.
- Showcased that amplification occurs without crossing excitation thresholds.
Conclusions:
- Non-normality is the common mechanism for noise amplification in both fluid and biological systems.
- Findings are relevant to oscillatory, bistable, and pattern-forming systems.
- Provides new insights into fluctuation dynamics in biological signaling.
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